Marie Curie response to NAO Investigation

Today’s NAO Investigation into NHS continuing healthcare funding shows that there is a long way to go until the Government delivers on its commitment to ending variation in end of life care.

While the investigation highlights that many people will wait unnecessarily for CHC funding decisions, our own evidence shows that those eligible for fast-track CHC funding also experience unacceptable delays which result in them being stuck in hospital and sometimes dying there.

Scott Sinclair, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Marie Curie, said: "Fast-track continuing healthcare funding is designed to help people at the very end of their lives get out of hospital and back home or into a care home as quickly as possible. But the system is failing people. Our own evidence shows that, in some parts of country, the average waiting time to get out of hospital is seven days, while in other parts it takes a matter of hours. It is no longer unusual for people to die while waiting to get out of hospital. The report acknowledges this. No one should be subjected to this kind of postcode lottery, especially not when they are dying and time is especially precious.  Delays to fast-track CHC funding causes considerable distress to patients and their families. The Government needs to get a grip of this situation."