A new report, offering a blueprint for how greater choice in end of life can be achieved has today been published by a review board set up by Health Minister, Rt Hon Norman Lamb MP.
The report, What’s important to me: A review of Choice in End of Life Care, calls for a new ‘national choice offer in end of life care’ to be established, backed up by an additional £130 million from the next spending review. It also calls for a new right in the NHS Constitution for everyone to be offered choice in their end of life care, and for these choices and preferences to be recorded in their own personal plan of care.
Other key recommendations include:
- 24/7 end of life care for people being cared for outside hospital should be in place across England by 2019
- Everyone in need of end of life care should have a named senior clinician responsible for their care and preferences and their own care coordinator.
- The Government should implement a clear policy to make access to social care for people at the end of life fast and free
- There needs to be more honest and open communication about end of life issues, with better support for health and care professionals and increased awareness raising amongst the public.