Marie Curie responds to today’s Spending Review from the Chancellor of the Exchequer
Comment published
Meredith Niles, Executive Director of Fundraising and Engagement said:
“While we welcome today’s investment in social care, for many of the people we have supported at Marie Curie this has come too late. People who have terminal illnesses do not have time on their side.
“Thousands have been forced to drain their life savings to pay for care at the end of their lives. Many have died, often unnecessarily in hospital, waiting for the social care they needed to get them home.
“There may be political uncertainty at the moment but one thing is certain – we have an ageing population with high levels of need for health and social care. In the next ten years four and a half million people will die and will need high quality care at the end of their lives.
“Thousands have been forced to drain their life savings to pay for care at the end of their lives. Many have died, often unnecessarily in hospital, waiting for the social care they needed to get them home.
“There may be political uncertainty at the moment but one thing is certain – we have an ageing population with high levels of need for health and social care. In the next ten years four and a half million people will die and will need high quality care at the end of their lives.
“The spending commitment to the NHS is also welcome. However, the government must bring forward proposals for sustainable funding and integration of health and social care to meet the needs of the growing number of people dying every year. Without decisive action millions of people could die without the care they need, in pain and sometimes even in despair.”