Marie Curie Response to the National Survey of Bereaved People (VOICES)

Marie Curie Response to the National Survey of Bereaved People (VOICES), 2014
 
Dr Jane Collins, Chief Executive of Marie Curie said:
 
“The new National Survey of Bereaved People (VOICES) gives a valuable insight into the care people receive towards the end of their life in England. It shows that whilst the care people receive in hospices, care homes and at home is viewed positively by bereaved relatives or friends, there are still too many people experiencing inadequate care in hospital and outside normal working hours.
 
“If we do not improve the way we care for people with a terminal illness, more people will miss out on the care they need.  In England, around 92,000 people who need access to high quality palliative care miss out each year. Given our ageing population, demand for palliative care will only grow. Around 50% of people in the UK die in hospital, often with little clinical need to be there. Our concern is that the rising demand could lead to an increased numbers of care failures, which can lead to distressing experiences for people who are terminally ill and their families and loved ones. We need to shift care for people with a terminal illness out of hospital and ease the pressure on NHS hospitals.
 
“Few hospital doctors and nurses receive regular and ongoing training in providing care to people who have a terminal illness, despite frequently seeing patients who have a need for palliative care. Marie Curie is campaigning for mandatory undergraduate and on the job  training in palliative care for healthcare professionals in order to ensure that fewer people experience poor care in hospitals and other settings when they have a terminal illness.”