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Palliative care access 'poor'

12/12/2007

Access to palliative care is inadequate and varies across the country, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has warned today.

A report released by the college says all patients who are suffering and dying should receive support and management of their symptoms, but not all do due to lapses in care and a postcode lottery in provision.

There are unacceptable variations in care, the RCP says, both geographically and across different demographic groups.

Its report claims there is a particular disparity between patients with cancer and those suffering from non-malignant conditions.

Recommendations made today include an increase in NHS funding of palliative care as the RCP says unsatisfactory NHS funding has led to poor integration of services.

Presently the voluntary sector and charity funding support about 70 per cent of the costs of specialist care, with the NHS providing about 30 per cent of funding.

Other proposals include all healthcare professionals being trained in palliative care and for better research to be carried out into the efficacy and cost effectiveness of many palliative care interventions.

Dr Mary Armitage, chair of the working party and immediate-past RCP clinical vice-president, said: "The UK led the development of modern palliative care.

"Specialist palliative medicine physicians have a key role to play in leading the development of services, in strategic planning and support for education and training as well as the delivery of care to patients with complex needs.

"They need the resources to ensure that all patients receive timely and excellent end-of-life care."