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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Promise to improve care for dying | Promise to improve care for dying |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| People are to be given more choice over where they die as part of a package of measures to improve care for the dying. | People are to be given more choice over where they die as part of a package of measures to improve care for the dying. |
| Ministers said the key to this will be the creation of rapid response nursing teams to help carers. | Ministers said the key to this will be the creation of rapid response nursing teams to help carers. |
| But England's first End of Life Care strategy also calls for more openness in talking about and planning for death. | But England's first End of Life Care strategy also calls for more openness in talking about and planning for death. |
| Extra money is being provided, but experts said it was still a challenge to turn "fine words into action". | Extra money is being provided, but experts said it was still a challenge to turn "fine words into action". |
| Campaigners have long been calling for more focus on what they see as a neglected area of the NHS. | Campaigners have long been calling for more focus on what they see as a neglected area of the NHS. |
| For far too long, there has been a presumption that death should be at the convenience of the system Paul Cann, of Help the Aged 'My husband could die at home' | For far too long, there has been a presumption that death should be at the convenience of the system Paul Cann, of Help the Aged 'My husband could die at home' |
| About 500,000 people a year die in England mostly following a period of chronic illness such as heart disease, cancer or dementia. | About 500,000 people a year die in England mostly following a period of chronic illness such as heart disease, cancer or dementia. |
| Just one in five deaths happen at home despite two thirds of people saying that is where they would prefer to die. | Just one in five deaths happen at home despite two thirds of people saying that is where they would prefer to die. |
| By comparison, 58% of people die in hospital with many families complaining a lack of support and pain management leaves them with no other alternative. | |
| The government aims to tackle this by setting up 24-hour on-call nurse teams across the country to help those caring for the dying at home to cope in times of crisis. | The government aims to tackle this by setting up 24-hour on-call nurse teams across the country to help those caring for the dying at home to cope in times of crisis. |
| It is being largely modelled on a programme run by Marie Curie Cancer Care in six areas, which has doubled the number of people dying at home by offering support especially in the final weeks and days of life. | It is being largely modelled on a programme run by Marie Curie Cancer Care in six areas, which has doubled the number of people dying at home by offering support especially in the final weeks and days of life. |
| Training | Training |
| Ministers also want to see training offered to health and social care professionals to help them assess the needs of families facing a death. | Ministers also want to see training offered to health and social care professionals to help them assess the needs of families facing a death. |
| An extra £286m is being invested by 2011 to fulfil Labour's 2005 manifesto commitment to double funding in palliative care. | An extra £286m is being invested by 2011 to fulfil Labour's 2005 manifesto commitment to double funding in palliative care. |
| A specialist nurse on the range of end of life care that can be offered | A specialist nurse on the range of end of life care that can be offered |
| But this will happen over a period when the NHS budget will have increased by nearly 50% anyway. | But this will happen over a period when the NHS budget will have increased by nearly 50% anyway. |
| And the focus on palliative care ignores the general resources spent on looking after the dying, which suggests the extra £286m is not as large an increase as first seems. | And the focus on palliative care ignores the general resources spent on looking after the dying, which suggests the extra £286m is not as large an increase as first seems. |
| For example, over £1bn a year is spent on district and community nursing. About 40% of their time is spent looking after the dying. | For example, over £1bn a year is spent on district and community nursing. About 40% of their time is spent looking after the dying. |
| But Health Secretary Alan Johnson dismissed suggestions there was not enough money to achieve the aims, pointing out it was also about changing the way the system worked. | But Health Secretary Alan Johnson dismissed suggestions there was not enough money to achieve the aims, pointing out it was also about changing the way the system worked. |
| "People coming to the end of their lives and their loved ones deserve high quality, compassionate and dignified care on their own terms. | "People coming to the end of their lives and their loved ones deserve high quality, compassionate and dignified care on their own terms. |
| "This strategy will help it happen." | "This strategy will help it happen." |
| He also said he wanted to start a national debate to get people talking about death. | He also said he wanted to start a national debate to get people talking about death. |
| The strategy suggested a number of ways to encourage that, including getting funeral directors to hold open days and schools to start discussing it with pupils. | The strategy suggested a number of ways to encourage that, including getting funeral directors to hold open days and schools to start discussing it with pupils. |
| Paul Cann, from Help the Aged, said: "For far too long, there has been a presumption that death should be at the convenience of the system, as opposed to respecting the individual wishes of those who are approaching their final days." | Paul Cann, from Help the Aged, said: "For far too long, there has been a presumption that death should be at the convenience of the system, as opposed to respecting the individual wishes of those who are approaching their final days." |
| But he added the challenge now was to turn "fine words into action". | But he added the challenge now was to turn "fine words into action". |
| And shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien said the government had ignored the "wonderful contribution" made by hospices. | And shadow health minister Stephen O'Brien said the government had ignored the "wonderful contribution" made by hospices. |
| England's strategy comes as Scotland is also working on its plans for end of life care. | England's strategy comes as Scotland is also working on its plans for end of life care. |
| Meanwhile, Wales has already produced guidance on the issue, but it is too early to tell if it has had a major impact. | Meanwhile, Wales has already produced guidance on the issue, but it is too early to tell if it has had a major impact. |
| What do you think of these measures? Would you prefer to plan where you die? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | What do you think of these measures? Would you prefer to plan where you die? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |