Couple married for 62 years hold hands one last time after nurse pushed hospital beds together

He was dying and she was set to be discharged — so staff moved them closer for final goodbye

John and Marjorie Wilson (University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust)

A couple married for 62 years were able to hold hands one last time after a nurse pushed their hospital beds together.

John Wilson, 92, was admitted to Burton’s Queen’s Hospital with terminal cancer at the same time wife Marjorie, 88, was being treated there for a separate illness.

And when it became clear he was entering his final days just as she was set to be discharged back to a care home, nurse Emma Barker took the spontaneous decision to have their beds moved next to each other for a last goodbye.

She said: “I can’t even imagine what it’s like to be married to someone for more than 60 years and know that you’re never going to see them again.”

As the couple, from Ashbourne in Derbyshire, lay next to each other for 10 minutes, she also took a photo for their family.

Mr Wilson died soon after on 15 June.

“The picture had everyone crying when they saw it – it was very emotional and powerful,” she said.

“The whole reason you become a nurse is to care for people and to have moments like this.

“To now know that Mr Wilson’s son will have, not only this photo, but also the knowledge that his father saw his mother for a final time, will remain a significant memory for me.”

In a letter of thanks for the picture, the couple’s son Kurt said: “I’d like to say a special thank you to Sister Emma, who had the foresight to take a photo of mum and dad together for the last time.

“Words are not enough to express my gratitude to you all.”