09.04.11
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 be devastating for people and their loved ones, as it could improve the quality of patients’ lives in their final weeks and months and enable them to die at home if they wish.
Even though over half of people (57 per cent) who have a cancer diagnosis would like to spend the last weeks and days of their life at home less than a quarter (24 per cent) actually do.
Worryingly, the recent Freedom of Information request by Macmillan Cancer Support revealed that nearly half PCTs in England are not providing 24/7 community nursing to all patients at the end of their life. This is despite the Department of Health’s End of Life Strategy for England in 2008 calling on PCTs and Local Authorities to make access to community nursing at any time of the day or night available to all end of life patients.
Ciaran Devane, Chief Executive at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: “We simply cannot claim to have a world class health service when we continue to let down our most vulnerable patients just when they need the NHS most. People must have the fundamental right to die at home if they want to. It is not right that so many end up dying in hospital, against their wishes, because they do not have the support to stay in their own home.
“We welcome this review by the Government into end of life care but it must fill the gaps in service provision to make 24/7 care a reality.”
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