Free social care for people at the end of life says charity

The charity Macmillan Cancer Support has called for the Government to make social care free for the terminally ill.
In a report published today, the third sector organisation has called on the Government to make social care free for everyone in the last weeks of life before the end of this current parliament in 2015.

‘As the Government makes up its mind about whether to fund and implement free social care at the end of life, thousands of people with terminal cancer are being left to die in hospital beds against their wishes,’ said chief executive, Ciaran Devane.

‘This is putting an unnecessary strain on our Accident and Emergency departments because people are not getting access to social care for themselves, or for their carers, which would enable them to be cared for in the comfort of their own home.’

According to a recent survey, 63% of those who died at home rated the overall quality of care received as excellent or outstanding, compared to only 37% of those who died in hospitals.