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Dying at home scheme's cash plea | Dying at home scheme's cash plea |
(about 10 hours later) | |
A leading charity says plans to help more terminally ill people die at home under a pioneering nursing scheme are at risk due to a lack of funding. | A leading charity says plans to help more terminally ill people die at home under a pioneering nursing scheme are at risk due to a lack of funding. |
Marie Curie Cancer Care says £2m more a year would allow it to extend a scheme which has more than doubled the number spending their last days at home. | Marie Curie Cancer Care says £2m more a year would allow it to extend a scheme which has more than doubled the number spending their last days at home. |
The warning comes as a YouGov survey suggests more than 70% of people would feel happiest dying at home. | The warning comes as a YouGov survey suggests more than 70% of people would feel happiest dying at home. |
But fewer than one in seven think they would get the care they need. | But fewer than one in seven think they would get the care they need. |
Marie Curie nurses work across the UK looking after people who want to die at home. | Marie Curie nurses work across the UK looking after people who want to die at home. |
The charity is worried that many people who would like to spend their last days in their own familiar surroundings end up dying in hospital. | The charity is worried that many people who would like to spend their last days in their own familiar surroundings end up dying in hospital. |
'A privilege' | 'A privilege' |
Gwen Eldred is part of Marie Curie's Rapid Response team of nurses and healthcare assistants in Boston, Lincolnshire, which has contributed to a dramatic increase in the numbers able to die at home. | Gwen Eldred is part of Marie Curie's Rapid Response team of nurses and healthcare assistants in Boston, Lincolnshire, which has contributed to a dramatic increase in the numbers able to die at home. |
You know that you are giving them the choice that - without our service - I don't think would be there Gwen EldredRapid Response team class="" href="/1/hi/health/7264357.stm">Hugh Grant calls for action | |
She is on a routine visit to 77-year-old Bob Standwell, a patient with pulmonary fibrosis, who is struggling to get air into his lungs. | She is on a routine visit to 77-year-old Bob Standwell, a patient with pulmonary fibrosis, who is struggling to get air into his lungs. |
"Nine times out of ten with him it tends to be an unplanned visit, usually caused by a panic attack," says Gwen. | "Nine times out of ten with him it tends to be an unplanned visit, usually caused by a panic attack," says Gwen. |
"He can't get his breath, and his wife tends to ring us up and says 'can you come and give Bob a hand. He's just having a bit of difficulty breathing at the minute' and we'll just go and help him." | "He can't get his breath, and his wife tends to ring us up and says 'can you come and give Bob a hand. He's just having a bit of difficulty breathing at the minute' and we'll just go and help him." |
The rapid response team have the expertise to support patients and their carers through crises, so they do not have to dial 999 and be hauled off to A and E. | The rapid response team have the expertise to support patients and their carers through crises, so they do not have to dial 999 and be hauled off to A and E. |
The scheme also provides discharge nurses who help terminally ill patients who want to leave hospital to go back to their homes. | The scheme also provides discharge nurses who help terminally ill patients who want to leave hospital to go back to their homes. |
Gwen Eldred says it is a privilege to help people at such an important time. | Gwen Eldred says it is a privilege to help people at such an important time. |
"You've been invited into someone's home at a very delicate time in someone's life, and you're welcomed into that family. | "You've been invited into someone's home at a very delicate time in someone's life, and you're welcomed into that family. |
"You're made to feel part of them, and you really are making a difference, you know that you are giving them the choice that - without our service - I don't think would be there." | "You're made to feel part of them, and you really are making a difference, you know that you are giving them the choice that - without our service - I don't think would be there." |
All parts of the health system need to act, listen and give us a chance to work with them Thomas Hughes-HallettMarie Curie Cancer Care | All parts of the health system need to act, listen and give us a chance to work with them Thomas Hughes-HallettMarie Curie Cancer Care |
Marie Curie has been talking to the government about extending the scheme across England. | Marie Curie has been talking to the government about extending the scheme across England. |
The charity's chief executive, Thomas Hughes-Hallett, says ministers are supportive, but have not come up with the money that is needed - £2m extra each year for the next three years. | The charity's chief executive, Thomas Hughes-Hallett, says ministers are supportive, but have not come up with the money that is needed - £2m extra each year for the next three years. |
"My main worry is that without the funding it won't happen. And this is the moment that it must happen," he says. | "My main worry is that without the funding it won't happen. And this is the moment that it must happen," he says. |
"We want people to die at home, people want to die at home, and we must ensure that the government is listening. | "We want people to die at home, people want to die at home, and we must ensure that the government is listening. |
"All parts of the health system need to act, listen and give us a chance to work with them, to deliver the results of this extraordinary programme." | "All parts of the health system need to act, listen and give us a chance to work with them, to deliver the results of this extraordinary programme." |
The charity has also released the findings of a UK-wide YouGov survey which suggests that more than 70% of people would feel happiest dying at home. | The charity has also released the findings of a UK-wide YouGov survey which suggests that more than 70% of people would feel happiest dying at home. |
In practice three times more people end their lives in hospital than at home. | In practice three times more people end their lives in hospital than at home. |
Top priority | Top priority |
Only about one in seven of those surveyed thought they would get the care they would need at home. | Only about one in seven of those surveyed thought they would get the care they would need at home. |
Many were concerned about pain, yet Marie Curie says for 80% of cancer patients, pain can be managed easily at home, and that a further 10% can remain home with the right kind of care. | Many were concerned about pain, yet Marie Curie says for 80% of cancer patients, pain can be managed easily at home, and that a further 10% can remain home with the right kind of care. |
Ministers say this issue is a top priority. | Ministers say this issue is a top priority. |
The government has written to health authorities encouraging them to back the programme - but it says ultimately these decisions must be taken locally. | The government has written to health authorities encouraging them to back the programme - but it says ultimately these decisions must be taken locally. |
Bob Standwell's wife of 55 years, Nan, could not speak too highly of the support she received. | Bob Standwell's wife of 55 years, Nan, could not speak too highly of the support she received. |
"He said I don't want to go back in hospital. I like being at home. I promised that he wouldn't go back in hospital if I could possibly avoid it. I can't think of anything at all which is as helpful to people in our situation as the response team." | "He said I don't want to go back in hospital. I like being at home. I promised that he wouldn't go back in hospital if I could possibly avoid it. I can't think of anything at all which is as helpful to people in our situation as the response team." |
Bob was too poorly to speak the day I came. The following day he died, at home. | Bob was too poorly to speak the day I came. The following day he died, at home. |
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