Our reaction to the King’s Speech: Government plans to boost the NHS must include improvements to palliative and end-of-life care
Today, His Majesty King Charles III delivered the King’s Speech, which happens at the start of a new parliamentary year.
The King’s Speech outlined the new Labour Government’s bills – it contained 39 proposed areas for new law that the Government hopes to pass through Parliament over the next parliamentary session.
Within the speech, there was a commitment to improve the NHS, ensuring it is a service for all, alongside a commitment to reduce waiting times and to help prevent people’s health from worsening.
Commenting on the King's Speech, Emma Vasey, Head of Influencing and Engagement at Sue Ryder, said:
We’re pleased the Government’s agenda will provide a focus on health and care and will allow us to raise the needs of people who are dying or grieving in Parliament.
“As part of the Government’s plans, they must recognise that improving palliative and end-of-life care (PEoLC) can help support the NHS to reduce waiting times and support their ambitions to improve prevention.
“High quality PEoLC means that people facing life threatening illnesses get the right care and support as early as possible. This can mean that pain, distress and severe symptoms are prevented and managed through PEoLC in an appropriate setting.
“This can help to ease the strain on the NHS as fewer people will need emergency hospital admissions or to stay in hospital longer than they need to.”
However, without reviewing the hospice funding model, the NHS will lose out on the benefits that PEoLC can provide in helping to address the pressures. A recent Hospice UK survey found that at least 20% of UK hospices have either cut services in the last year or are planning to do so.
On average, hospices receive a third of the funding they need from the government and rely on raising money through fundraising and voluntary donations to cover the rest. Unless the funding changes, hospices will remain under threat, and more and more people will miss out on the care they need.
The new Government must make support for people who are dying and grieving a priority, and engage with the PEoLC sector so we can help them to meet their aims, while improving support for everyone who needs it.
Sources
- Hospice UK news article 'Urgent call to save end of life care as 20% of hospices threatened by cuts'
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