Research has revealed 92% of areas do not have round the clock support services for those who are dying.
Health and social care charity Sue Ryder said it left too many people – together with their carers and families – resigned to ‘needless suffering’.
The charity has launched a new campaign, Dying Doesn’t Work 9 to 5, to raise awareness of the lack of 24/7 end of life support services.
Heidi Travis, chief executive of Sue Ryder, said people should be able to access ‘the care they want, when they want’.
‘Unfortunately many areas of the country simply don’t have the services in place to make this ambition a reality,’ she said. ‘Yet services like our local Partnership for Excellence in Palliative Support (PEPS), which is built around giving patients a single point of contact to help ensure a coordinated service, has proven that this is possible to achieve.’
The charity has launched a petition at www.sueryder.org/not9to5 and is encouraging debate on Twitter using the hashtag #not9to5.
