Better end-of-life care can relieve pressure on the NHS

Too many dying people face long stays in hospital when they don’t want or need to be there

Vindi Banga

Wednesday September 18 2024, 9.00pm, The Times

For many people at the end of life, and those caring for them, it will come as no surprise that Lord Darzi believes the NHS is in a “critical condition”.

While most dying people wish to spend the final phase of their life in their own homes, far too many end up facing long stays in hospital when they don’t want or need to be there. More than two in five deaths occur in hospital, with 41 per cent of that group dying alone. That can’t be right.

Why do these people end up in hospital in the first place? Far too many are unable to access out of hours care and have no option but to call an ambulance in the middle of the night. A study by the charity Marie Curie found that most people who died in England visited a hospital A&E department once or more in their final three months. Further, 70 per cent of such A&E visits resulted in hospital admission with an overnight stay if not more.

Marie Curie has proven solutions to reduce such hospitalisations. Services like our IMPaCT in the northwest of England improve co-ordination across palliative care. Patients, carers and healthcare professionals can contact two service hubs through a 24/7 telephone line. This has helped reduce emergency hospital admissions at the end of life by 13 per cent.

Read whole article here (£)

Vindi Banga is chair of Marie Curie