Age UK: Government must grasp opportunity
Michelle Mitchell, charity director at Age UK, calls on government to "grasp the nettle" of palliative care:
"Currently, people do not receive the planned, coordinated support they need at the end of life and while the majority of people would prefer to die at home, most people die in hospital. This is not only distressing for older people and their families, it is also costly.
"People are living longer often with multiple conditions and growing numbers of older people will need targeted care at the end of their lives. The report features a number of recommendations that could help more people have a good death.
"For example, regular assessments would help the NHS better understand a person's changing needs while removing the means test for social care at the last stages of life would help people return home from hospital when they are ready.
"It is vital the government takes this opportunity to grasp the nettle of an often neglected issue in our health service."
