NHS could pay organ donors’ funeral expenses

Organ donors’ funeral expenses should be paid by the NHS to boost the number of organs available for transplant, a report suggests. The Nuffield Council on Bioethics states that alternative incentives must be investigated to increase donations...<<Read More>>

‘Stunning inequities’ in palliative care

An independent review into palliative care in England has found “stunning inequities” in the levels of treatment for the dying, calling the current system ‘confusing’ and ‘inconsistent’. Requested by the Government and led by Marie Curie Cancer Care chief executive Thomas Hughes-Hallett...
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Deaths data shows December peak

New information has been published linking hospital patient outcomes and deaths data. The study uses information compiled by both the NHS and the Office for National Statistics. NHS Information Centre chief executive Tim Straughan said: “The publication... <<Read More>>

More flu deaths

Flu has now killed 254 people since October – but is now declining. H1N1 ‘swine’ flu is the predominant cause, with Influenza B also a predominant strain. The Health Protection Agency said that i n the past week, the number of GP consultations in England fell to 66.5 per... <<Read more>>

MPs believe that people should have the right to die in their place of choice

Independent inquiry into assisted dying launched  

Society ‘should debate’ end of life care, says RCP

The issue of end of life care and euthanasia has been hotly debated for many years, with the Royal College of Physicians admitting that it was a subject which should be debated by society. The College’s president, Sir Richard Thompson, made this...

NHS denies nursing care to war veteran

A Second World War veteran has been denied NHS nursing care because apparently he is not ‘ill enough’, despite having cancer in various parts of his body.

Former RAF Sergeant Bernard Warren has been cared for by h is wife Tricia for over six years, but now she feels that he requires dedicated NHS care. However, this has not been...

Huge discrepancies in end of life care highlighted

Responding to the review into the funding of palliative care announce by Andrew Lansley, Macmillan Cancer Support released its own report, which highlights just why such a review is needed.

In another example of the postcode lottery in England, the report shows up to 19 million people do not have access to round the clock care at the end of their life should they want it in the area they live. The result can...

End of life care still needs work, according to government report

A government report has found that whilst end of life care is improving, there is still a long way to go to achieve the desired levels of care.

Care Services Minister Paul Burstow said: “We need to ensure that the care people receive at the end of life is compassionate, appropriate and gives people choices in where they die and how they are cared for. Identifying people approaching the end of life and planning properly with them for their care is an essential part of this...