The Prime Minister has personally thanked an NHS worker who cared for his brother during the final weeks of his life. Sir Keir Starmer met with advanced nurse practitioner Ben Huntley at Downing Street to express his gratitude for the compassionate care provided to his brother Nick.
Nick Starmer died on Boxing Day 2024 aged 60 after battling cancer. The emotional meeting was captured in a video posted on social media to mark the 77th anniversary of the NHS, showing the Prime Minister speaking directly to the healthcare professional who made such a difference to his family.
Personal connection to NHS
Speaking to Mr Huntley, Sir Keir said: "Ben, you looked after him. I think from the moment he was in all the way through, and you made sure that he felt cared for and respected." The Prime Minister emphasised how much this meant to his family, adding: "That meant a huge amount to me and my family and, on all of our behalves, I say through you a very special thank you to the NHS."
The video also showed other members of the public meeting with NHS staff who had helped them, highlighting the personal impact of healthcare workers across the country. Sir Keir revealed the deep family connection to the health service, explaining that his mother worked for the NHS before becoming seriously ill herself.
Family's NHS connections
"My mum worked in the NHS and then she was very, very ill, for most of her life. And the NHS became our absolute lifeline," the Prime Minister said. He also noted that his sister worked for the NHS and his wife currently works for the health service, demonstrating the family's long-standing ties to healthcare.
Earlier this week, Sir Keir told the BBC's Political Thinking programme that he "made it my business to be there in the hospital" when his brother received his cancer diagnosis. The Prime Minister described wanting to help look after Nick and protect his privacy during treatment.
Protecting brother's dignity
"It's really hard to lose your brother to cancer, he was a very vulnerable man," Sir Keir said in the interview. He shared details of "going up in the porter's lift into the back of the intensive care unit" to maintain his brother's privacy during such a difficult time.
The Prime Minister also revealed that US President Donald Trump asked about his brother during a phone call just "a few days" after Nick's death. This personal gesture from the American leader came during what was undoubtedly one of the most challenging periods for the Starmer family.
(PA/London) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
