Dignity in death

The London Assembly Health Committee has published its report: ‘End of Life Care in London: a review’.

End-of-life care (EOLC) is usually defined as care for people likely to die within a year and it is intended to enable people to live as well as possible until they die, and to die with dignity.

Marie Curie believes that end-of-life care in the UK is “in crisis”, with one in four people not getting the care they need, one in three dying in overwhelming pain, and one in five unable to access GPs in the last three months of life. London's ageing population will increase the demand for end-of-life care provision in the capital.

The London Assembly Health Committee report makes recommendations including:

• The London Health Board should prioritise end-of-life care, with a particular focus on ensuring equality of access for all groups within London.
• The Mayor should use his convening powers and position as Chair of the London Health Board to drive greater collaboration between Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), NHS providers, local authorities, and hospices.
• The Mayor should ensure that his Cost-of-Living Hub includes clear signposting to financial and practical support for people receiving end-of-life care and their families.