Marie Curie response to NAO report on reducing emergency admissions

Simon Jones, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Marie Curie, said:

"The increase in emergency admissions is another wake-up call for the government. The system is struggling to cope with the needs of older people and a growing number of people with chronic conditions at the end of their lives. We know that admissions to A&E for people towards the end of their lives can be disruptive and stressful, not to mention often unnecessary and avoidable.

"The issue can be partly attributed to a lack of suitable support for family carers as well patients. We know from our own research out today that carers are not being adequately prepared for when their loved ones are discharged from hospital, which inevitably leads to ambulances being called because the right care and expertise isn’t available outside of hospitals.

“With the right support and resources in place, people don’t have to be repeatedly rushed to hospital. Today’s report shows how urgent it is that the government invests in community services.”