Literature Review

End-of-life care 'no better than it was 70 years ago'The Guardian (United Kingdom)/Yahoo! News, 12/21/23Loneliness afflicts the majority of people at the end of their life, according to a report that found palliative care has not improved in 70 years. Poverty, social isolation and not being able to die where they want are all common issues causing “considerable hardship” for people as they die. Despite advances in healthcare since 1952, the “end of life care system has not kept pace”, the charity Marie Curie concluded in an analysis comparing care today with 70 years ago. It found that 97 per cent of carers were looking after patients who were lonely at the end of their life, while less than a third said people they cared for were always able to die where they wanted.

Hospices face ‘existential threat’ amid budget fearsBBCDecember 11, 2023Hospices in the north of England face an “existential threat” due to a “funding crisis”, according to a hospice leader. Paul Marriott, chair of Hospices North East and North Cumbria, said all of its members were running budget deficits. He warned hospices may have to make staffing cuts without more funding. ... Hospices receive most of their funding from charitable donations, but get some some from the NHS [National Health Service] too. The average adult hospice receives about a third of its income from the NHS, according to charity Hospice UK. Paul Marriott said all members of the Hospices North East and North Cumbria group were running budget deficits. ... He said: “I do think it is an existential threat. Every hospice is drawing on reserves currently and that’s not sustainable.” Hospices could close or make serious staffing cuts next financial year without more funding, he added.