Marie Curie response to committee report on the financial sustainability of hospices
Comment published
Dr Sam Royston, Executive Director of Research and Policy, at end of life charity Marie Curie, said:
"The Committee has laid bare what Marie Curie has warned for years; end of life care is in crisis, and the UK government's response does not reflect the scale or urgency of the issue.
"Almost one in three people lack the end of life care they need, with many dying in pain or alone due to overstretched, underfunded services. A Modern Service Framework is vital but must be backed by clear delivery and funding to bring real change.
"The UK government must bring forward a transformation fund for palliative and end of life care, alongside the Framework. Shifting care from costly emergency hospital settings to the community is not just the right thing to do for people, it makes financial sense.1
"Dying well should not depend on where you live or what you can give to a charity. It is a basic expectation that government has a duty to meet."
Ends