Statement on reports of CQC criticism of end of life services

CEO of the National Council of Palliative Care and Dying Matters coalition, Claire Henry, said:

"This is yet another report which shows that dying people are too often treated with neglect and lack of dignity in some hospitals. This is not principally about resources, it is about attitudes and priorities in those places. We have had too many such reports and it is now time for action.  Hospital  boards should be making the care of dying people a key measure of their performance, and make sure there is round the clock access to palliative care specialists. It is also essential that the government sets out a clear plan to tackle this in its forthcoming response to the independent choice review I chaired into improving people's quality and experience of care  at the end of life.”

More information can be found on the Care Quality Commission website.