Expanding choice and improving the quality of end of life care
2 Jul 2014 12:13 PM
A review of choice in
end of life care has been launched to make sure adults at the end of life,
their carers and family have more choice.
The review will be undertaken by
an independently-led programme board chaired by Claire Henry, Chief Executive
of the National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC) which is the umbrella
charity for all those involved in palliative, end of life and hospice care in
England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The review is a significant
milestone in the government’s commitment to increasing choice in end of
life care and will look at a variety of different aspects including what people
want, the support they need and the services required to make choice a
reality.
Leading experts in end of life
care will join Claire to make up the board bringing experience from a wide
range of perspectives, including: charity, health and social care, policy
making, carer and personal experience of end of life care
services.
The review will provide advice
to government on improving the quality and experience of care for adults at the
end of life, their carers and those who are important to them by expanding
choice.
Claire Henry has a wealth of
experience in end of life care and together with invaluable insight from
patients, charities, health and social care organisations, will be able to
improve end of life care.
She said: “I am delighted
to have been asked to Chair a review into such an important issue. We only have
one chance to get it right for people who are dying, but despite some excellent
practice many people are not currently getting the care and support that is
right for them.
“I look forward to working
alongside such an experienced and expert programme board and with a wide range
of stakeholders in the coming months - and will not waver from my commitment to
ensuring that the advice we give to government enables choice to be expanded
and improve the quality and experience of care for adults at the end of life,
their carers and those who are important to them.”
The board will present its
findings and advice to Government in February 2015.