Elderly Care Reforms Could Help Seniors Breathe Last at Homes Rather Than Hospitals

A government review in England has suggested that making changes to the existing elderly care in the country could enable more than 60,000 people to die in their own homes rather than in hospitals. The Palliative Care Funding Review, commissioned by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley last year, has found than more than 92,000 people die every year without receiving any proper care. According to a recent Department of Health survey more than £460 million was spent on adult palliative care last year and Lansley identified a lack of clarity on how the money has been spent or who was in charge of a terminally ill patient.

Thomas Hughes-Hallett, who chaired the Palliative Care Funding Review, underlined the lack of clarity in the system and said that majority of the people want to die in their own homes but less than 20 percent get to do so.

He went on to state that if changes are made to the palliative care was improved outside the hospital, then the number of deaths in the hospital could be reduced by more than 60,000 and save the hospitals over £180 million every year.

Commenting on the review, National Council for Palliative Care ‘s Simon Chapman said, “We only get one chance to get it right for dying people, which is why it must be a priority to ensure everyone who needs it can access palliative care round the clock.”

Source-Medindia