PALLIATIVE CARE
hospitals, into the community, so that unnecessary hospital admissions are avoided and stays in hospital aren’t prolonged because of a lack of support outside. This would not only enable more dying people to have their wishes met, but could also potentially save money by reducing pressures on already stretched hospitals.”
The Nuffi eld Trust’s report comes ahead of the publication of the results of an independently-led review of choice in end of life care, chaired by the NCPC’s Chief Executive, Claire Henry. The review, which is due to be released in February 2015, will advise the government on how to expand choice to improve end of life care for adults.
Help the Hospices’ Director of Policy and Advocacy, Jonathan Ellis spoke in support of broadening the range of end of life care options: “At present end of life care is too hospital-centric. We need to explore alternative options in community settings, especially support from hospices in people’s homes. Not only is this more in line with most people’s preferences but, as this signifi cant report illustrates, there is a compelling business case for doing so, by helping reduce costly, unnecessary hospital admissions and targeting precious NHS resources more effectively.”
While understanding the costs of services is essential to improve the way care is delivered, as Nuffi eld Trust Senior Analyst Theo Georghiou points out, “we must not forget that the experiences of those who are dying and of the bereaved are also of crucial importance.”
At a time when NHS hospitals are under intense pressure to cut spending, increasing investment in out-of-hospital care services could help to curb hospital budgets. But, much more importantly, it would allow people to spend their last moments of life in the comfort of their own homes.
twitter.com/TomorrowsCare
What we need now is a reinvestment in end of life care services
away from hospitals, into the community.
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