Book excerpt: Annie Armitage was a successful nurse, dedicated to quality nursing care until, aged 26, she was diagnosed with Lupus and given 5 years to live. As she became increasingly ill, she started to wonder how the standard of nursing had slipped so drastically since her own training. This is her must read account of her experiences. Annie Armitage was a successful career nurse, with a dedication to quality nursing and care as taught during her rigorous training in the 1960s. Taking her skills, Annie eventually worked as a consultant to the Department of Health, advising on the quality of nursing care in the NHS. However Annie had been diagnosed with Lupus, an illness that affects over 50 000 people in the UK; is more common than Leukemia, yet is virtually unheard of by the wider population. Lupus usually causes great pain, serious organ damage and is potentially fatal. At 26, Annie was given 5 years to live - she fought to look after her two young children while dealing with the insidious illness. As Annie became increasingly ill, she was able to reflect on her changed situation as a patient not a nurse. During the time she was in hospital under treatment she started to wonder how the standard of nursing had slipped so drastically since her own training. Her experiences as a Lupus sufferer - and previously as a nurse - have given her first-hand experience of the quality of care experienced in NHS hospitals. Annie's observations and knowledge make this essential reading - not just for those suffering from Lupus, but also for anyone concerned about standards of nursing and care in hospitals, as well as those experiencing long-term incurable illness.