The current care system in the UK for patients with terminal illnesses is in need of a major overhaul claims a new report.
Researchers from the London School of Economics said that every year, more than 100,000 people who would benefit from palliative care are not receiving it, meaning they are being left with little pain relief and respite.
The report found that there were inequalities with regards to how people can access good care. Researchers said that certain groups of patients were more likely to miss out, and with the demand for care only increasing with an aging population the problem looked set to get even worse.
The BBC reports that currently, most palliative care goes out to cancer patients, even though cancer accounts for less than a third of deaths. Just one in five new referrals to specialist end-of-life services are for those suffering with non-cancer diagnoses.
The report, commissioned by charity Marie Curie, said that providing palliative care to the people that need it could significantly improve thousands of patients’ quality of life.
Dr Jane Collins, chief executive of Marie Curie, said: “Everyone affected by terminal illness should have access to all the care and support they need, regardless of their personal circumstances. This report shows that this is not the case, and some groups are getting a worse deal than others. We don’t think this is good enough.”