End of life care ‘not working’ for dying people or their families, say campaigners

The UK spends £11.7bn on people’s health in the last year of their life, largely on hospital care even though most would rather die at home or in a hospice.

The stark disparity is “robbing many tens of thousands of dying people of the chance to remain where they want to be in the final chapter of their life”, according to Marie Curie. A report from the charity has revealed that, in all, Britain spends £22bn a year on health care, social care and welfare benefits for people who will be dead within 12 months.

Of the £11.7bn spent on health needs, £9.6bn (81%) goes to hospitals and out of that, more than two-thirds, £6.6bn, is used to provide emergency care such as in A&E.

The findings come as MPs consider how to introduce assisted dying for people with a terminal condition who have less than six months to live. The Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s private member’s bill has prompted widespread agreement that end of life care needs a dramatic expansion.

“Through inadequate community care for people in the final year of life, we are currently robbing many tens of thousands of dying people of the chance to remain where they want to be in the final chapter of their life. It is inexcusable and it cannot be ignored any longer,” said Dr Sam Royston, Marie Curie’s executive director of research and policy.

“No one wants to be calling an ambulance in the middle of the night because they can’t get the support they need at home, or facing long stays in hospital when they don’t want or need to be there, but that is the shocking reality for far too many dying people.”

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Source: The Guardian, 5 February 2025