“The terminally ill bill and ongoing debates around assisted dying has brought hospices to public attention. Facing increased financial pressures, many hospices are being forced to cut services, reduce workforce and some even close down all together. My new research highlights that many hospices have innovated to meet the demands of patients at the end of life, providing specialist palliative care to people with complex illness and co-morbidity. This is only going to increase as the population ages.
“There is currently 1.7 million people aged 85 years and over, making up 2.5% of the UK population. By mid-2045, this is projected to have nearly doubled to 3.1 million, representing 4.3% of the total UK population. As we have heard at this week’s Hospices UK conference, hospice services are a crucial part of the health and social care system with many taking direct pressures off acute hospital services by enabling home deaths with good outcomes or admitting people for inpatient care.
“Despite the growing need for increased palliative care, hospices are not supported by core funding and many rely on charitable funds which is not sustainable with rising living costs.
“The consequence is further cuts to education and training for staff that are being asked to take on more responsibility and manage more complex patients and less funding for much needed research and quality improvement that underpins end of life care. My editorial makes the case for evidence informed end of life care that is appropriately funded and integrated system-wide.
“At a time when more people than ever before are going to require end of life care and vital family support, the hospice sector should be supported to grow and advance not cut back and close. Research and evaluation is essential to ensure that growth and development is sustainable and fit for purpose.”
