Charity urges Welsh Parliament's Health and Social Care Committee to make end of life care a priority

A leading end of life charity is urging the Welsh Parliament's Health and Social Care Committee to look at end of life care as a priority.

Marie Curie, which provides support to dying people and their loved ones across Wales, as well as bereavement support, has made the call as part of its response to a consultation on the committee's priorities for the sixth Senedd.

The charity says more focus is needed to "explore the challenges of how the NHS, Social Care and third sector partners will adapt during this Senedd term to meet the future needs of the increasing number of people who will die in community settings, or hospice settings".

Lowri Griffiths, Marie Curie Head of Policy and Public Affairs in Wales, said: "Governance arrangements for NHS Wales service delivery are undergoing change through the introduction of the new NHS Wales Clinical Framework. This period presents an opportunity for the palliative and end of life care community to come together and create new and progressive solutions to address the challenges of more complex deaths taking place in community settings.

"This in turn will lead to more consistent and improved quality end of life experiences for all those who need it now and in the future."

As a result of our ageing population, in twenty years' time there will be over 100,000 more people dying each year in the UK. During the charity's latest lecture series event, held virtually this summer for the first time since the pandemic began, attendees heard how research from Bone et al from Kings College London found that if recent trends continue, overall deaths in the community across England and Wales are projected to increase by 2040, with deaths at home increasing by 88.6 per cent, deaths in care homes by as much as 108 per cent, and deaths in the community (care homes, homes and hospices) accounting for 76 per cent of all deaths.

The research concludes that end of life care provision in the community needs to double by 2040 and demand for palliative care more generally is projected to increase by up to 42 per cent during the same time period.

Meanwhile, the Covid-19 pandemic has already led to a sustained increase in the number of people dying in community settings and this period has served as a stress test for our current health and social care systems. Marie Curie services have already seen an increase in numbers cared for by its nursing teams, with total patient numbers across all settings in Wales up 2.4 per cent in 2020-21, and a significant jump in community activity of a 10 per cent patient increase during the same period.

"The Welsh Government has already announced that it will develop a new End of Life Care Programme and work is currently underway to develop a new programme framework," added Lowri.

"This is welcome, however there is an urgency to ensure that progress is made at pace so that we can start planning together to ensure that everyone in Wales has the best possible end of life experience.

"With these figures in mind, we would urge the Committee to consider taking a closer look at the future plans of palliative and end of life care services, in order to support the people of Wales with all aspects of death, dying and bereavement."