18 July 2008
Primary care trusts will receive an extra £88m next year as part of a package to improve the care of terminally ill patients.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said the extra money would fulfil the government's 2005 manifesto commitment to double the funding for palliative care.
Spending in 2005 was estimated to be £180m so the extra funding — £88m in 2009/10 and £198m in 2010/11 — would meet the manifesto pledge comfortably.
Johnson said the increased funding would allow terminally ill patients to choose where they wished to die. Surveys have shown that most people would prefer to die at home but only around 18% do so.
The additional funding was announced alongside the launch of the government's ten-year End-of-Life Care strategy. The first of its kind, the strategy will strengthen support for those who choose to die at home.
PCTs and local authorities will ensure there are 24-hour rapid response community nursing services. There will be a new emphasis on training and palliative care outreach services. Quality standards will also be developed.
Responding to the announcement, Help the Aged challenged the government to ensure the strategy secured dignity for terminally ill people. Improving care was one of the key elements of Lord Darzi's Next Stage Review of the NHS.
The strategy is largely based on the work of Marie Curie Cancer Care. Its medical adviser, Teresa Tate, said the charity had proved it was possible to increase the number of people spending their final days at home.
She added: 'We recognise that it is the actual implementation of the strategy, not its publication, that will make the real difference.'
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