End of life care needs urgent review to identify gaps across England and Wales, Marie Curie says
Press release published
Marie Curie, the UK's largest charitable provider of palliative and end of life care, called for Amendment 21 to be included in the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which was tabled by Munira Wilson MP, and supported by Kim Leadbeater MP.
The amendment would require the government to publish an assessment of the current availability, quality and distribution of palliative and end of life care services in England and Wales within a year of the bill being passed.
While Marie Curie firmly maintains its neutral position on assisted dying, the charity has campaigned tirelessly for government to address the growing crisis in palliative and end of life care, and to ensure there are plans in place to urgently fix it.
Marie Curie Chief Executive, Matthew Reed, said: "If assisted dying is legalised, it is more crucial than ever that our governments across the UK ensure that there is palliative care available for anyone who needs it. It is impossible to imagine that this could be achieved without an assessment of the quality and distribution of palliative care services currently available.
"While we welcome that the assisted dying bill has been amended to require such an assessment, this will not on its own make the improvements needed to guarantee everyone is able to access the palliative care they need.
"We will continue to make the case to the UK government that we also need to see a palliative care strategy for England - supported by a sustainable funding settlement - which puts palliative and end of life care at the heart of NHS priorities for the coming years.
"In Wales, our manifesto for the Senedd election next year provides a roadmap for the incoming Welsh Government to transform palliative and end of life care, making sure that everyone has access to the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
"Marie Curie remains neutral on the question of whether assisted dying should be legalised, and whether the law changes in England and Wales or not, it is vital that governments across the UK are held to account to ensure plans are in place to fix end of life care for good.
"Our own research has pointed to gaping shortcomings in care for people facing terminal illness, with huge funding issues, short comings in out of hours care, and a postcode lottery to access services. This is simply unmanageable, unsustainable, and completely unacceptable.
"We can't rely on debates or public interest around this bill to improve matters. End of life care is in crisis. Without urgent action from government, the situation is only going to get worse in coming years."
ENDS
Notes to editor
Notes to editor:
For more information please contact: Suzanne van Maurik at suzanne.vanmaurik@mariecurie.co.uk / 07908 472719.
OR contact the Marie Curie Press Office: media@mariecurie.org.uk / 0845 073 8699.
Please note, Marie Curie is not a cancer charity but the UK's leading 'end of life charity'. We care for people with any illness they are likely to die from including Alzheimer's (and other forms of dementia), heart, liver, kidney and lung disease, motor neurone disease, Parkinson's, and advanced cancer.
About Marie Curie
Marie Curie is the UK's leading end of life charity.
The charity provides expert end of life care for people with any illness they are likely to die from, and support for their family and friends, in our hospices and where they live. It is the largest charity funder of palliative and end of life care research in the UK, and campaigns to ensure everyone has a good end of life experience. Whatever the illness, we're with you to the end.
If you're living with a terminal illness or have been affected by dying, death and bereavement, Marie Curie can help. Visit www.mariecurie.org.uk or call the free Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309.
Although legislation for assisted dying is a matter for the UK parliament, if the Bill becomes law it will affect devolved public services in Wales, where the provision of end of life care is the responsibility of the Welsh Government. If the Bill progresses, action must be taken to ensure any assessment of palliative care takes account of devolution and the appropriate responsibilities of the UK and Welsh governments.
Whatever the illness, wherever you are, Marie Curie is with you to the end.