'We must do better on end-of-life care'

The Royal College of Physicians is calling on government and health system leaders to transform how dying is recognised and supported across the NHS and social care

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DOCTORS are calling for a public campaign on end-of-life care and a national strategy on how such care for dying people can be delivered.

It comes amid a warning that too often this phase of someone's life "is seen as unexpected or a last-minute crisis" despite the person being ill and already in hospital or another care setting.

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) said currently much focus remains on treatments to cure patients, despite many having progressive life-limiting conditions including those who are frail or elderly, and called for "important cultural shifts" in healthcare and wider UK society around palliative and end-of-life care.

RCP clinical vice president Dr Hilary Williams described anticipating the end of someone's life as "an act of clinical courage and kindness".

Referring to previous research, the college said approximately 70% of people die "from long-term health conditions that can follow a predictable course, with death anticipated well in advance of the event".

They said that despite this, "patients and their families often feel unprepared for the end of life" and argued patients who are in their final months of life "can benefit from open supportive conversations that help them to recognise this and may result in a change in approach to their treatment and support".

The college said the Government must develop a public campaign on end-of-life and palliative care; support a professional campaign to improve education, recognition and delivery for end-of-life care; and commission a national strategy for end-of-life and palliative care including staff training.