We must recapture the spirit of the hospice revolution to provide end-of-life care to all who need it
This article whilst ostensibly about hospices sets out very clearly what needs to happen around health and social care agenda if it is to deliver better outcomes in rural communities. It tells us:
First, we need to rebalance our health and care system so that it can respond to the way society is changing, and tackle our over-reliance on acute care. That means placing greater emphasis on community-based services. We could support more people to die at home rather than in expensive hospital beds and train and support district and community nurses to provide end-of-life care at home, which many hospices already do. New homes could be designed to reflect the fact that their occupants may well have long-term care needs.
Second, we need to do more to support families and carers. Organising and coordinating care at a distance, which is the reality for most families, is difficult and stressful. We need to go further to help carers, for instance by encouraging workplace flexibility; Hospice UK is exploring this with leading employers.
Third, we should go further in integrating care services so that people no longer fall between the gaps in care. Too often, the debate focuses on how to bring NHS and local government services together, overlooking the role of the charitable sector. Around the country, hospices are working increasingly closely with hospitals, care homes and home care services, many providing training to care-home staff to equip them better to care for people approaching the end of life. Charities, like hospices, have a great deal to offer and with more support from the NHS and councils could do so much more.