Health: Government wants to offer choice over place of death

People should be given the choice about where to die – with thousands more able to pass away at home, according to Government plans published yesterday.

Everyone across the country should be given a "choice offer", with proper support in place to ensure they could die where they wished.

Most people now die in hospital despite the vast majority saying they would prefer to die at home in familiar surroundings, close to family and friends.

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The Government admitted there was a long way to go before everyone was given a choice of where to die but said a review in 2013 could lead to a firm offer in the future.

The plans are part of a new consultation on increasing patient choice in the NHS.

It builds on commitments made under Labour to offer a range of choices, including of hospital, care team, treatment, GP and maternity service.

It says patients should be able to choose from "any willing provider", including private companies or charities offering treatment at NHS prices.

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On where to die, it said: "We want to give people more control over the care that they receive as they approach the end of their lives.

"Therefore, we propose to establish a national choice offer for those people who choose to die at home (including a care home) to receive the support that they need.

"A lot needs to be done to improve end of life care services to make this possible, so we will undertake a review in 2013 to decide when this national choice offer could be introduced."

The document said there may be some situations where people were not allowed to die at home, such as if the specialist health equipment or nursing care they required can only be provided in a hospital. "There will also be cases where the level of social care support required, including any support needed by carers, may mean that some choices will not be possible."

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A separate consultation document on information was launched yesterday by the Government.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "We want to go further than

simply offering people a choice of hospital.

"Patients should have choice at every stage of the journey – where they register with a GP, where they go for tests, who they see for

treatment, and what care or treatment they receive from any willing provider.

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"Above all, they should be able to change these choices at any stage. Patients and service users should be in control and involved as much as they want to be in every decision about what, where, how and from whom they want to receive care."