“My Government will introduce a bill to provide universal free social care for people at the end of life.”
We know that almost three quarters (73%) of cancer patients want to die at home. However, less than a third (29%) are able to do so[1]. People are being failed by a system that is not equipped to allow them to die in the place of their choice.
Free social care for people at the end of life is key to enabling choice at the end of life[2]. The Palliative Care Funding Review found that social care allows those who aren’t able to rely on their family or a carer to receive help with non-nursing tasks, such as washing, getting dressed and preparing meals. Even for people who do get support from their family or a carer social care is vital. It gives loved-ones a much-needed break from the physical and emotional strain of caring for someone at the end of life.
Further, the more people are supported by social care at the end of life, the lower their chance of using expensive health care services. For example, they’re less likely to be admitted to hospital and have a lower number of inpatient bed days, outpatient attendances and A&E visits[3]. QIPP data suggests that there are therefore potential net savings of £958 for every person who dies in the community, supported by social care, rather than in hospital[4].
Finally, eight out of ten health and social care professionals polled by
Macmillan Cancer Supportagree that providing end-of-life care, including social care, in the community would take pressure off the NHS through for example, swifter discharge and reducing unplanned admissions.
We know there is already support for this idea within the current Government so we want to see action taken now. The Care and Support White Paper, published in 2012, stated that the Government sees “much merit” in the principle of free social care at the end of life. Subsequently, the Joint Committee on the Draft Care and Support Bill called for free social care at the end of life to be introduced at the “earliest opportunity”. During the Care Act’s passage through Parliament the Care Services Minister, Norman Lamb, went as far as saying: “I am not in a position to commit the Government, but, as the responsible Minister...I am determined that we achieve that objective.”
The number of people affected by cancer is increasing rapidly. We can’t afford to keep failing a growing proportion of the population and nor can we afford to keep wasting money by keeping people in hospital when they don’t want to be there. The Queen’s Speech is the perfect opportunity to introduce a bill for free social care at the end of life which will enable more people to die in the place of their choice.
[1] Macmillan (2010), Online survey of 1,019 people living with cancer
[2] Hughes-Hallett, T.; Craft, A.; Davies, C, 2011, Palliative Care Funding Review
[3]
http://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/sites/files/nuffield/social_care_and_hospital_use-full_report_081210.pdf
[4]
http://www.endoflifecare-intelligence.org.uk/view?rid=464