Andrew Lansley CBE MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health, confirmed the Conservative’s policy is that end-of-life care should become a mainstream part of the NHS. 
Speaking at an event at the Policy Exchange, hosted by Marie Curie Cancer Care, Lansley acknowledged that projections indicate a dramatic increase in the number of people dying, and welcomed Marie Curie’s call for a public discussion/debate about death.
When questioned, Lansley confirmed that it is also Conservative policy to give patients and families real choice so that people at the end of life can access the right care in the right place at the right time. He said many practical questions remain to be answered before it is possible to make this an exercisable right, but that “we need to do this.”
Mr Lansley echoed David Cameron’s recent assertion that patients should have the power to choose where they get treated and the information to make informed choices and placed great importance on choice and the provision of information to people. He said: “We shouldn’t be in a position where patients have to navigate all the time during their palliative care”.
He also stated that families and professionals should be enabled to have conversations about their preferences and the services available to them at the end of their lives.
Welcoming Andrew Lansley’s comments, Marie Curie Chief Executive, Thomas Hughes-Hallett said:
“Changing demographics mean that nearly 3 million people will die over the course of the next Parliament. Like birth, death is something we all face. We know that people want to choose the place of their death and the services that are available to them. Marie Curie is fully committed to supporting policies and actions from the current or any future government that help to ensure that people can access the high quality care and support they need at the end of their life in the place of their choice.”
View an edited recording of the event here.
