Ombudsman service report that too many people are dying without dignity

Marie Curie welcomes today’s report into investigations by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman into complaints about end of life care.  Dr Jane Collins, Chief Executive of Marie Curie, said:

“Dying without dignity is a harrowing read.  It provides a stark reminder of what happens to people with a terminal illness when they are failed by staff without adequate training and let-down by a system that struggles to provide effective support outside normal working hours. The experiences highlighted show the devastating impact that poor care can have, not just on patients but also their families, long after their loved one has died.

“Around 92,000 people with a terminal illness miss out on the care they need each year, and we know from the recent London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE) report on palliative care, commissioned by Marie Curie, that getting care is particularly difficult for the over 85s and people with illnesses other than cancer. Dying without dignity highlights a real issue with the quality of care that is available – the incidents described in this report should never happen. 

“The challenge for the new Government is clear – everyone with a terminal illness deserves access to high quality, compassionate care, and the opportunity to spend their last months and weeks at home with their families. This is the reality for too few people. Sadly, this report shows that too often this is not the case.”