More than 1,100 UK nurses have warned that pressures on staffing, time and care planning are putting end of life care at risk, leaving dying people facing distressing and undignified deaths.
End of life charity Marie Curie and Nursing Standard undertook a survey of frontline nurses working in the community and hospitals for their views on the biggest issues affecting the delivery of end of life care in the UK today.
The findings make for harrowing reading, with nurses describing a system under severe pressure and the stress and toll of caring for dying patients in corridors and other unsuitable or non-clinical settings.
The survey found:
More than 70% of nurses said staffing levels are a constraint or barrier to providing end of life care.
More than half said a lack of time is a constraint to giving people end of life care.
55% of nurses have treated patients in a corridor or non-designated clinical area.
Over 70% of nurses said patients being cared for in areas not designed for it compromised patient dignity and caused distress to relatives.
Nurses described care being affected by gaps in medical records, missing or inaccessible care plans.
In more positive findings, over 90% of respondents felt confident about initiating a conversation with a patient about their end of life care needs and wishes.
The findings point to widespread problems in care planning, leading to uncertainty around a patient’s wishes at the end of their life. Nurses reported opportunities for such conversations are being missed or, where plans have been created, they aren’t always accessible to the right people in the moment of crisis due to an over reliance on paper files, and care providers and the NHS using different electronic systems.
As a result, more than a third said they had witnessed a CPR decision in clinical practice they felt was inappropriate. One nurse shared it had happened twice in her career, and both times were horrendous, recalling a recent case of a terminal metastatic cancer patient: “We were never going to get her back. She died on the floor in the bathroom, undignified, family hysterical, staff all left traumatised.”
Other accounts describe CPR being attempted on people whose wishes were known but not accessible in the moment because paperwork could not be found or a decision could not be verified over the phone. One nurse spoke of an older man carrying his paper care plan in his pocket at all times so that he wasn’t subjected to intervention against his wishes.
Nurses cited a raft of reasons behind these experiences, but all led back to the lack of, or difficulty in accessing, Advance Care Plans. Over 40% of nurses surveyed said, in their experience, it was uncommon or very uncommon for patients approaching end of life to have an advance care plan in place.
Advance care planning is a way to record a person’s wishes for their future care, especially if they have a terminal illness or are nearing the end of life. It helps care professionals and those close to them understand what matters most, including their care preferences, any medical treatments they may or may not want, and where they would prefer to be cared for.
In response, Marie Curie is calling on the UK Government to use the Health Bill, which returns to Parliament on September 7, to address gaps exposed by this survey.
The charity wants the Single Patient Record to be available to all palliative and end of life care providers, including social care, voluntary sector and private providers, so everyone involved in a person's care can see their wishes. It is also calling for everyone diagnosed with a terminal illness to be offered a conversation about their holistic needs, wishes and end of life preferences.
Sarah Williamson, Marie Curie Director of Nursing and Quality, said: “These harrowing stories are incredibly difficult to read, but it's so important that we are aware of the stark reality facing nurses, clinical teams, families and patients every day.
“When someone has taken the time to think about how they want to die, that decision should follow them, wherever they are and to whoever is caring for them. The Health Bill is a chance to fix the systems behind these decisions, so that a person's wishes are recorded once and available to everyone involved in their care.
“We’re also looking at how we can help. Marie Curie is trialling new ways of working with the NHS in hospital emergency departments and GP practices, to identify people approaching the end of life earlier and put the right support in place, including Advance Care Plans.”
Flavia Munn, Editor of Nursing Standard, said: "Our survey shows the intense pressures nurses are facing as they try to provide compassionate care to people at the end of life. It is encouraging that so many nurses feel comfortable talking to patients about end of life, but they also described the impact of limited time, staffing pressures and care plans that are not always in place or accessible when needed. These are complex issues, but the findings point to the need for better support and systems so that patients, families and staff can have confidence that people's care is dignified and wishes are understood and respected."
Anyone affected by the story can reach out to Marie Curie’s information and support service which offers practical information and emotional support on all aspects of death, dying and bereavement. Call free on 0800 090 209 or visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/support
** ENDS**
**Notes to editors **
The online survey was open from 26 June to 14 July 2026 and sent to registered and subscriber users of Nursing Standard. Respondents supplied their nursing job titles.
Interviews and filming opportunities available upon request.
For more information, please contact the Marie Curie Press Office by emailing media@mariecurie.org.uk or calling 0845 073 8699.
Survey methodology: [dates], answered by 1,153 nurses and healthcare professionals across the UK. Responding nurses were from England (82.9%), Scotland (8.6%), Wales (5.3%) and Northern Ireland (3.2%).
** Marie Curie Unmet Need Report, 2026
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.
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 Nursing Standard
Nursing Standard publishes online and in print. It is owned by the Royal College of Nursing, which protects its editorial independence. Perspectives and opinions published in Nursing Standard should not be taken to represent the views of the Royal College of Nursing unless specifically stated.