WIREDGOV

A national review by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has found that people from certain groups in society are experiencing poorer quality care at the end of their lives than others because providers & commissioners do not always understand or fully consider their specific needs.  In ‘A different ending: Addressing inequalities in end of life care’, the CQC reports that only 67% of the 40 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) it surveyed said that they had assessed the end of life care needs of their local populations – meaning that 1 in 3 had not.

Of the 27 CCGs that had reported that they had assessed the end of life care needs of their local populations, only 18% (7) had reported that they had commissioned specific services for at least one of the population groups considered in its review as a result – this includes people whose social circumstances make them vulnerable, older people, people with dementia, a learning disability, a mental health problem, or a chronic progressive illness other than cancer.

The impact of this could be that local health & care services are not fully equipped or ready to help these particular groups of people in their areas to get truly personalised care at the end of their lives.

CQC:  Action needed to ensure high quality & personalised care for everyone at the end of their lives

NHS Confederation responds to CQC report on end of life care

A matter of concern for most people (eventually)

NHS England: Realising ambitions - improving palliative & end of life care for all in 3 steps