24 hour expert care support not available in England

The health charity Sue Ryder reports that the NHS is failing to provide access to 24-hour support for the majority of patients dying at home in England.

Around 92% of NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) do not provide round-the-clock telephone help lines, the charity said.

Guidelines say there should be 24-hour telephone services and the NHS says it is “working hard to make changes”.

There are half a million carers for terminal patients in England.

Sue Ryder said there is an “obvious inequality” between help and advice for the start and the end of life, with 24-hour, seven-day-per-week help available for maternity issues.

The charity asked all of the 211 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England whether they had commissioned 24-hour end-of-life care support, including help lines staffed by nurses.

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