Everyone deserves a real choice at the end of life

Overwhelmingly people with cancer tell us that they want to die in their home surrounded by their loved ones. However, the reality is that too many simply do not receive the right support at the right time to allow this to happen.  

This is why at Macmillan we are campaigning for people to have greater choice about where they are cared for at the end of life.

What the Government is doing

The good news is that the Government has committed to establishing a ‘national choice offer’ to ensure people who want to die at home get the support they need. However, before introducing these changes the Government have first said they will review end of life care services in England to understand what action is required before this commitment can become a reality.

What we are doing already

We are already campaigning for greater access to key services that we know will make a real difference. For instance:

• 24/7 community nursing to support people in their own homes, day or night, and;
• free social care at the end of life to avoid complex financial assessments, which can often prevent people getting the support they desperately need.

What needs to happen next

The review is due to take place this year and will provide a great opportunity for you to have a say. To make the changes that are necessary we believe the review needs to:

1. Identify the reasons that people approaching the end of life find themselves in hospital when they want to be at home
2. Identify the key services that enable people to receive care where they want it and how they can work better together
3. Recognise the vital role of carers and consider what support they need to be able to care for their loved ones at home
4. Establish clear recommendations for delivering the necessary improvements and identify who is responsible for ensuring these changes happen

Throughout this process the review must seek to fully involve those who best understand why the system is failing and why finding solutions is so important, such as, patients, carers and professionals.

We want to know what you think

To help us influence the Government review we want to hear your views about choice at the end of life and what the review needs to do to make it a reality. Please let us know what you think below, or by emailing us at campaigns@macmillan.org.uk.

We’ll keep you updated on the campaigns blog about how we’re getting on. You can also follow the Mac policy team on Twitter.

Get support

Whether you’re approaching end of life, or caring for someone who is, the Community can be a great place to share your story, and get support from other people affected by cancer.

You can also contact our Macmillan Support line on 0808 808 00 00. It’s free from any UK landline and open weekdays 9am - 8pm.

Download our free Macmillan booklet about some of the ways you can plan ahead and make choices about your future care.