Social care should be free at the end of life to stop people dying in hospital against their wishes and to reduce the strain on the NHS, says a coalition of charities.
The seven charities are calling for the next government to provide fast and free social care for those reaching the end of their lives, warning 85% of people of die in hospital would prefer to die at home. They say this will account for 1.4 million people over the course of the next parliament.
The charities say more support for people to allow them to die at home would also reduce care costs by as much as £500 per person.
On behalf of the charities, Dr Jane Collins, chief executive of Marie Curie, said: ‘Pressure is increasing on NHS budgets and A&E departments are already over-stretched. The evidence shows that it makes financial sense for the NHS to support people to be cared for at home in their last weeks and days. This is also what the majority of people with a terminal illness would prefer.
‘Together, we are calling on all parties and the next Government to set out how they will introduce fast and free social care for everyone nearing the end of their lives to reduce pressure on hospitals and deliver genuine choice.’
