Comment on Labour's NHS social care for terminally ill people

Marie Curie Cancer Care has been campaigning to ensure that the means-testing process for social care is removed for people who are terminally ill.

Imelda Redmond CBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, at Marie Curie Cancer Care said:“For terminally ill people, and their carers and families, time is precious.
 
“We know that the majority of people (63%) would prefer to die at home, but currently only 20.8% of people are able to do so. We also know that ensuring terminally ill people are supported to die at home can save the NHS money.

“Removing the barriers that terminally ill people face when accessing social care will mean that more people will be able to receive their care at home rather than in hospital. As well as supporting patient choice, timely access to social care can help people to be discharged quickly from hospital and prevent unnecessary and costly readmissions.

“All too often terminally ill people end up in hospital in their last days of life, when they would rather be at home with their loved ones.

“The process people currently have to go through to get the social care they need is overly burdensome and is carried out separately from the health service. Yet at no point is seamless care more important than at end of life. Removal of the social care means-test for those on an end of life care register would be a significant step towards realising the vision of a more integrated health and social care system.

“Marie Curie has written to the Government on this matter and we know they are carefully considering the issue.”

Analysis by Marie Curie Cancer Care shows that if free social care for those currently on an end of life care locality register were to be introduced, the initial cost to the state would be £32.2 million.

Yet if community services, including social care, were developed to enable just 30,000 patients to reduce their stay in hospital by only four days, the NHS could save up to £34million.

Marie Curie Cancer Care is working to ensure people are supported to spend their final days in their place of choice, with equal and fair access to services across the UK.