One Chance to Get it Right: now is the time to prioritise palliative and end of life care in Northern Ireland
Everyone in Northern Ireland deserves access to high-quality palliative and end of life care, regardless of where they live, their diagnosis or their circumstances. Yet too many people still face barriers to accessing the care and support they need.
The next Stormont government must act. There is only one chance to get palliative and end of life care right.
Action is needed
Palliative and end of life care provides vital support to people living with a terminal illness and their families. Delivering effective care requires a wide range of services working together across the statutory, independent and community and voluntary sectors.
However, services are not currently reaching everyone who needs them.
It is estimated that one in three people are missing out on the palliative care they need and deserve.
As Northern Ireland’s population continues to age, this gap will grow unless action is taken. Northern Ireland has one of the fastest-growing ageing populations in the UK, with the number of people aged over 85 expected to double by 2048.
We’re calling on the next Stormont government to…
-
Prioritise palliative and end of life care by committing to improving support for people affected by death, dying and bereavement in the Programme for Government and ensuring that sustainable funding arrangements are put in place which recognise palliative care as an essential core service.
-
Prevent crisis situations for palliative and end of life patients by ensuring comprehensive community-based services are available across Northern Ireland.
-
Ensure that no one dies without support by improving the identification, recording and sharing of information relating to people living with a terminal illness and ensuring that people living with a terminal illness have access to adequate income, welfare advice and financial support.
-
Develop and implement a public awareness strategy on palliative and end of life care to inform and empower communities.