World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (10 Oct)

7 October 2009

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (10 October) is a unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world. The theme for this year’s awareness day is ‘Discovering your Voice’ to encourage people who receive end of life care and organisations that provide care, such as Sue Ryder, to speak out about how end of life care can make a real difference to the quality of people’s lives and ensure people experience a good death.

Around half a million people die in England each year with a significant amount of those needing end of life care*, yet existing palliative care services remain increasingly under-funded. In the run up to World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, Sue Ryder is urging the government to strengthen its commitments to improving end of life care.

Heather Aldridge, specialist palliative care expert at Sue Ryder – who provide end of life and long term care at 14 care centres, including six hospices, and community based services nationwide - said: “As more people live longer, often with complex multiple conditions, more people will need palliative care to enable them to live as full and active lives as possible before they die.

“Whilst the Department of Health’s End of Life Care Strategy (July 08) is an excellent action plan to improve provision and equality of access to end of life care, it is imperative that its recommendations are implemented and embedded across the whole country. And, that the £286 million allocated to develop end of life care services in the community and provide training to health and social care staff is utilised to best effect.

“In July the one year review of the End of Life Care Strategy was published which highlighted, alongside other issues to be addressed, that existing palliative care services are increasingly underfunded by commissioners, and worryingly, a relience on voluntary fundraising is growing. The End of Life Care Strategy has certainly focused attention, however there is still much to do to ensure more people and their families receive the care and support they need at such a vulnerable time.”

Sue Ryder needs to raise £13million in voluntary income each year to continue to maintain its current services nationwide that make a real difference to the lives of thousands of people each year. Internationally, Sue Ryder supports pioneering hospice care across Eastern Europe in countries as diverse as Albania and Poland.

Currently the charity is running an emergency fundraising appeal to prevent the closure of the only major provider of palliative care in Albania, Ryder Albania. Dependent on £150,000 each year in voluntary donations, Ryder Albania urgently needs to secure £50,000 this financial year to continue to support people living with life limiting conditions such as cancer to die in dignity and pain free.

Heather added: “Acknowledging that curative treatment is no longer an option is difficult for all concerned to accept. However, ensuring a person’s palliative care needs are met as soon as they are required will enable a better quality of life and help people to die in the place of their choice, with dignity and free from pain. Professional, quality, end of life care can be a huge comfort, both to those who are dying and their loved ones - as well as alleviating pain and discomfort it can allay anxieties and fear of the unknown.”

Building on its expertise in specialist palliative care, Sue Ryder is developing innovative and effective solutions that improve quality of life, and the experience of dying for people and their families. For more information on how you can support Sue Ryder and get involved in the appeal to help prevent closure of Ryder Albania call 0845 050 1953 or email info@sueryder.org/ international@sueryder.org.

*DoH End of Life Care Strategy July2008

Listen to Philip Ball, Palliative Care Servcies Manager at Sue Ryder

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