Thank you so much Graham, Arthur, Terpe, Doc Alan, Mick, Michael Harry T and Keith for all of your best wishes, advice and kindness. Also a big thank you for the anonymous rep I received!

I've already written my supporting letter with compassionate plea and I've made good headway with the general visitors visa applications but they can't be submitted until 3 months before the intended trip. I'll let you know how the applications go

In the meantime, my brother's teeth are badly decaying and breaking as he can't clean them and won't let anyone help. He was supposed to be admitted to hospital for numerous extractions under a general anaesthetic following a dental referral nearly 12 months ago but has been lost in the system yet again I have of course made a complaint which has now expedited the matter. Sadly, he is likely to end up with very few teeth left .........