Key points from article :
The UK spends £11.7 billion annually on healthcare for people in their final year of life, with the vast majority (£9.6 billion) going to hospital care—despite most patients preferring to die at home or in a hospice. A Marie Curie report, produced with Nuffield Trust and the NHS, highlights that 44% of deaths occur in hospitals, making it the most common place of death, even though many patients would choose otherwise.
Campaigners argue that the system isn’t working for dying people or their families and are calling for a major shift in funding. Diverting some of the billions spent on hospitals toward hospices and home care could help more people die with dignity in their preferred setting. Many families face distressing situations where loved ones are forced into hospitals due to inadequate home support, placing strain on overstretched emergency services.
The government recently invested £100 million in hospices, but critics argue that hospices remain underfunded, relying heavily on donations. Suggestions include creating hospice units within hospital grounds to provide better care while freeing up hospital beds. As MPs debate assisted dying, campaigners stress the urgent need for better end-of-life care, ensuring people spend their final days where they feel most comfortable and supported.
