Marie Curie response to Public Health England’s 'What We Know Now' Report

Whilst Marie Curie welcomes findings in Public Health England’s 'What We Know Now' report published today (Monday 04 November 2013) – showing numbers dying at home (where most people want to be) has increased to 44% in 2012, its Director of Policy and Public Affairs Imelda Redmond said:

“We need to pick up the pace of change if we want to be able to respond to the huge increase in the care needs of terminally ill people. We’re about to see the sharpest rise in the number of people dying, with annual deaths set to increase by 17% by 2030 to almost 590,000 deaths per year.

“Currently, our research shows that 63% want to be cared for and die at home, yet only 44%, including those in care homes, do. This is because not enough or the right type of health and social care is available.

“We want the Coalition Government to deliver on its 2010 Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS White Paper in which they said the NHS would provide people with end of life care in the place of their choice by 2013/2014.

Marie Curie is calling on the Government to urgently;

• Put in place increased capacity for health and social care so people can receive the right care in the right place when  they are terminally ill
• Ensure everyone with a terminal illness has the option to have an ‘Advanced Care Plan’ in which they can outline their wishes and desires in terms of their end of life care
• Ensure everyone with a terminal diagnosis has timely access to free social care
• Ensure there is access to 24/7 palliative care
• Ensure there is good pain management at home
• Ensure quality advice and information is available for those needing care at the end of their lives
• Support for families and carers

 “We also know from Public Health England’s What we Know Now report that where you live in the country and whether or not you live alone, will have a disproportionate impact on your chances of receiving care at the end of your life, in the most appropriate setting. It would seem that older people, many of whom will have a number of complex medical conditions and people who live alone, are less likely to achieve their wish to die at home.

“We want everyone, wherever they live to be able to have a ‘good death’, provided with the care they want and need, with support available for them and their families.”

-ENDS-