"It was hard to get through to the hospital to get that information…Because of a speech impediment, he was unable to communicate by phone. So, it meant I was asked to withdraw treatment without seeing him. "I have to live with that. I finally got to say goodbye on the phone 30 minutes before he died, but I don’t know if he understood.” There is estimated to have been around 2,000 excess deaths in Suffolk and north Essex in the 12 months from March 2020. Healthwatch Suffolk has recommended providers ensure people have access to information and tools they need, improving communication between providers and family members.