King’s Fund warns against a loss of momentum on end of life care

A report launched today by the King’s Fund shows that much more needs to be done to give patients and carers real choices about their care at the end of life.

The report, which provides examples of good practice in end of life care, highlights progress made in enabling patients to be cared for and die in their place of choice.

‘Implementing the End of Life Care Strategy: Lessons for good practice’ looks at the Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme, which highlights examples of good practice from across the country.

The report argues that significant progress can be made by rolling out existing good practice and adapting it to local contexts, and that the public spending squeeze need not stand in the way of further improvements to end of life care.

Dr Rachael Addicott, the report’s lead author said: “The Delivering Choice programme has provided a novel approach to improving end of life care by focusing on gaps in care and facilitating collaboration between health and social care providers. The health secretary’s mantra “no decision about me without me” is especially pertinent when it comes to end of life care. While we welcome the government’s continued focus on end of life care, we are concerned that the decision not to hold a review until 2013 risks losing momentum and missing the opportunity to build on the progress already made.”

Steve Dewar, Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Director of Research and Innovation, said:
“Much more needs to be done to provide equitable access to, and provision of, high-quality end of life and palliative care to people all across the UK. Marie Curie’s Delivering Choice Programme shows improvements can be made and the charity will continue to drive developments to ensure that quality of care remains high, even in times of economic uncertainty.”

Read full King's Fund press release

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