In Never Let Me Go, Kathy H. works as a carer.
A carer looks after organ donors before and after their operations. Kathy is unusually successful in this role, and she takes pride in being described as a good carer. Her work gives her access to donors while also allowing her to postpone her own donations for a time.
The novel gradually reveals that Kathy and her friends were raised as clones for a state-run donation program. Their childhood at Hailsham includes education and art, but the school’s apparent protection cannot change the larger system governing their lives.
“Carer” is a specialized term in the novel and should not be confused with a medical doctor or surgeon. Kathy does not perform the operations; she provides emotional and practical support to donors as they undergo the donation process.