Hospice UK launches report on the future of palliative care in Wales

We believe now is the time to start developing seamless and sustainable services that all children and adults nearing the end of their lives can rely both day and night.

Matthew Brindley, Policy and Advocacy Manager for Wales

In the new report, Hospice UK is calling for Welsh community health and care commissioners to ensure 24-hour care is available across Wales, focusing on the needs of those who are receiving care, their families, carers and loved ones.

Published in English and in Welsh, the report reveals that despite the demand for specialist palliative care at home increasing, vital out-of-hours support for people dying at home is still not widely available across Wales.

Future Vision Cymru: Seamless and Sustainable suggests that current projections indicate that the nation’s ageing population, with children and adults living longer and often with more complex needs, will contribute to an increase of 25% in palliative care needs by 2040.*

Matthew Brindley, Hospice UK Policy and Advocacy Manager Wales said: “Unfortunately, out-of-hours support for people dying at home in Wales is still a postcode lottery.

“Both families and professionals told us that increasing numbers of people choosing to die at home are not receiving the specialist end of life support they need.

“We believe now is the time to start developing seamless and sustainable services that all children and adults nearing the end of their lives can rely both day and night.”

Without specialist support available 24 hours a day, the palliative needs of children and adults nearing the end of their lives at home are often not being met.

Thousands of people are forced to rely on loved ones to care for them, often struggle to get adequate pain relief, and are coping with high stress and uncertainty, leaving many with little choice but to call an ambulance.

The research has brought together people with lived experience and professionals working across the health and care system in Wales to address the challenges faced when working in a more integrated way to meet the future need for greater palliative care and end of life care across Wales.