The report cites Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Delivering
Choice Programme in Lincolnshire as an example of
best practice
Following on from the Government’s NHS Review and the End of Life Care Strategy in the summer, this report evidences how critical it is for that better end of life care services are implemented.
Thomas Hughes-Hallett, Chief Executive, Marie Curie Cancer Care said: "Marie Curie Cancer Care welcomes the National Audit Office's report on End of Life Care as it addresses the need for better end of life care services.
"The report highlights once again that there is a need for more out of hours services for people at end of life, better coordination of this care between healthcare professionals and social care professionals, and increased end of life care training for medical staff.
"It is still a fact that the majority of people who are terminally ill would like to die at home or in a hospice, but the majority still die in hospital, often unnecessarily and in the place they least want to be.
"Marie Curie Cancer Care, through its Liverpool Care Pathway and Delivering Choice Programme is working to bridge these gaps in end of life care provision for those with all terminal illnesses, not just cancer, to enable more people to have choice in their end of life care.
"We want the NHS locally to see the National Audit Office report as further encouragement to make changes that would turn the government's End of Life Care Strategy into reality."
NAO report summary
- End of life care is becoming increasingly complex, with people living longer and the incidence of frailty and multiple conditions in older people rising.
- Information on peoples’ wishes is often not captured or shared and a lack of services to support them at home may lead to unplanned and unwanted admissions to hospital.
- The report states the need for out of hours care for the terminally ill, better coordination between healthcare professionals and social care; and increased training on end of life care for medical staff.
- It also notes that funding for hospices is an issue – the report believes the current situation of funding is not sustainable.
- The report finds that the majority of people wish to be cared for outside of hospital, so reducing the amount of time they spend there unnecessarily could make resources available to support them in their preferred place of care.
- The planning and delivery of services, particularly support in the community, needs to be improved; with commissioning of end of life services based on outcomes.
The role of the NAO is to audit the financial statements of all government departments and agencies, and many other public bodies.
They also report to Parliament on the value for money with which these bodies have spent public money.
They provide accountability to Parliament and aim to bring about real improvements in the delivery of public services.
The report cites Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Delivering Choice Programme in Lincolnshire as an example of best practice.
November 2008
