NHS end of life care services are failing in deprived areas

One tenth of families in England receive inadequate support from NHS end-of-life care services, according to findings published by the Office of National Statistics in a National Survey of Bereaved People.

Gathering responses from adults who have lost loved ones, the Voices survey found that hospitals are performing significantly lower than care homes, hospices and home care services, with many also being criticised for poor communication with GP services.

Findings showed that, whereas three out of four people rated the quality of end-of-life care their relative received as ‘outstanding’, ‘excellent’ or ‘good’, those who rated their care as ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ made up 21 per cent in least deprived areas, but up to 30 per cent in the most deprived areas.

National Council for Palliative Care chief executive, Claire Henry, said: “We welcome the publication of the National Survey of Bereaved People (VOICES), an important report which provides invaluable insight into bereaved people’s experiences of end of life care.

“Although three-quarters of bereaved people report that their relative or friend was able to count on outstanding, excellent or good end of life care, it’s hugely concerning that this was by no means the case universally and that people in deprived areas appear to be getting the worst care.

“The VOICES survey is the latest in a series of powerful reports to provide compelling evidence that, despite some excellent care, many thousands of dying people appear to have been failed at a time when they were at their most vulnerable and when their need was greatest. Once again the quality of care in hospitals appears to be significantly worse than elsewhere, with more than one in eight bereaved people reporting the quality of care was poor and almost a third saying pain was relieved only partially or not at all in hospital.”

She added: “This report also highlights the real need to improve coordination of care, with more than a third of bereaved people reporting that hospital services did not work well together with GP and other services outside the hospital, and people dying at home the least likely group to be access adequate pain relief.

“The NHS was set up to care for people from cradle to grave, but it’s clear that end of life care isn’t being given priority everywhere – something which is simply unacceptable. That’s why there needs to be strong national and local leadership, improved training and support for health and care staff and an unwavering commitment to putting people who are dying first, and providing coordinated services which meet their needs and choices.”