How could the charity's warning about care gaps affect the Department of Health and Social Care?
Department of Health and Social Care faces pressure to fund end-of-life care reform This pressure is evidenced by the fact that people in the last year of life accounted for 770,000 ambulance trips and 1,089,365 emergency department visits in 2023. Consequently, the charity is calling on the Government to invest in a ‘transformation fund’ for palliative care. The Department of Health and Social Care has responded by acknowledging financial pressures on hospices and stating that its forthcoming Modern Service Framework will address regional variations and support gaps.
- Effect
- Strong negative
- How direct
- Stated in the reporting
- When
- Within weeks
- The story
- Still developing
How it reaches Department of Health and Social Care
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A report by a charity and King’s College London experts found that emergency care for people in their last year of life in England has grown. In 2023, this group accounted for nearly 770,000 ambulance trips to emergency departments and almost 890,000 emergency admissions. The report stated that gaps in 24/7 community care are forcing patients into urgent and emergency support when they do not have to be there.
The full event2independent outlets -
The data shows that people in the last year of life accounted for 770,000 ambulance trips and 1,089,365 emergency department visits in 2023. Experts state that improvements in palliative and end-of-life care must be central to efforts to reduce avoidable hospital use. The charity is calling on the Government to invest in a ‘transformation fund’ for palliative and end-of-life care. The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the financial pressures on hospices and stated its Modern Service Framework will address regional variations and gaps in support.
1 report connects these two. Brind only summarizes; follow a link to read the reporting itself.
- lbc.co.uk Sunday
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United Kingdom government ministerial department
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The facts so far
As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.
- People in the last year of life accounted for almost 770,000 ambulance trips to emergency departments in 2023.lbc.co.uk
- Emergency department visits involving people in the last year of life increased by 21% between 2014 and 2023.lbc.co.uk
- The report highlights ambitions to reduce urgent hospital admissions among people approaching the end of their life by 10%.lbc.co.uk
- The Department of Health and Social Care has already invested £125 million to improve hospice facilities.lbc.co.uk
Why it matters
The stakes involve the quality of care for vulnerable patients and the operational capacity of the NHS. The report indicates that inconsistent access to community support is a key factor behind the rise in emergency hospital admissions, meaning that systemic failures are directly impacting patient comfort and safety.
This warning comes as the Department of Health and Social Care works to reduce avoidable hospital use and shift care into the community. The report also highlights that access to care currently varies across the country, particularly outside of normal working hours, indicating that the challenge is not uniform across England.
What we don't know yet
- Will the Government commit to the ‘transformation fund’ called for by the charity?
- How will the Modern Service Framework specifically address the regional variations in end-of-life care access?
Is this still moving?
- Reports
- 2
- Developments
- 2
- Repetition
- 0%
What would change this answer
Who else could feel it
Other possible ripples from the same event.
- Rachel ReevesLikelyIncreased reliance on emergency care could place fiscal pressure on the Chancellor's budget.
- Keir StarmerPossibleKeir Starmer faces pressure to address systemic care gaps in England
- Department for Work and PensionsPossibleIncreased demand for state benefits may strain the Department for Work and Pensions.
Reporting
- lbc.co.ukSunday
- morningstaronline.co.ukYesterday
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