Stunell Calls for Better Care for the Dying

12.00.00am GMT Wed 2nd Feb 2005

Care for the dying in Stockport is being put under the spotlight by local MP, Andrew Stunell.

Andrew Stunell has signed the recent Commons Early Day Motion in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care's Supporting the Choice to Die at Home campaign.

Recent research by Marie Curie Cancer Care showed that most people in the UK would want to be cared for at home if they were terminally ill, with a significant minority opting for hospice care.

Nationally, however, more than half of all cancer patients currently die in hospital, which is generally the place where they would least like to be.

In addition, the charity claims that for every £1 spent on providing care for the dying in the community, around £2 is freed up back in hospitals.

Andrew Stunell said:

"It is so important that terminally ill patients are able to die at home should they choose to. The results of a recent study show that 64% of people choose to die at home if they had a terminal illness yet only 25% of cancer patients are actually able to do so. This is an unacceptable and very sad state of affairs."

Andrew Stunell added:

"I hope that this new initiative will make the government face this issue and care for terminally ill patients with more compassion."

ENDS