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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 9d

The Labour Party made some positive steps towards improving palliative care during their first year in government.

But there is a long way to go.

❗ We now need to see a national strategy to fix end of life care

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 9d

Our team were also at the conference to speak to politicians about how they can make sure people get the right care at the end of life.

🏠 Most people prefer to be cared for at home as that’s where they’re comfortable. But we also know many people struggle to access care in their community.

A selfie of the Marie Curie Policy and Public Affairs team at the Labour Party Conference. In the background, you can see parts of the Marie Curie conference stall, which show a nurse providing care for someone at home.

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 9d

Wes Streeting explained more in his speech 👇

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 9d

📝 In July the Government published its 10 Year Health Plan, which includes shifting care from hospitals to community.

This could be good news for people living with a terminal illness, but only if Labour delivers on its promise of integrating palliative care in new Neighbourhood Health Centres.

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 9d

🚨 The Labour Party has been talking a lot about their plans to build an NHS fit for the future at the Labour party conference.

Here’s what that means for palliative and end of life care services. 🧵 👇 #Lab25

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 16d

There was a lot of positive discussion at the Lib Dem conference.

But we now need to work together to see these words turn into action. 💪

Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 16d

✅ But we also put forward the solutions that could fix the gaps, including a transformation fund for end of life care, more investment in the workforce and local advice services in every community.

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 16d

Plus - our Policy and Public Affairs experts teamed up with @hospiceuk.bsky.social, @tog4shortlives.bsky.social and @sueryder.bsky.social.

Together, we laid bare the current state of palliative care, with people spending their final weeks isolated, in pain and being rushed to A&E in a crisis. 💔

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 16d

3️⃣ 24/7 access to palliative care information through 111.

This will help connect people living with a terminal illness, and the people who are caring for them, with the information and advice they need, at whatever time they need it.

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 16d

2️⃣ Put more palliative care staff in A&E teams.

This will make sure people who are near the end of their life are quickly identified, assessed & treated when they come to A&E. Hospital staff will then arrange for care in their community, whether that’s at home or in a hospice.

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 16d

1️⃣ Develop a national strategy to improve palliative care.

The strategy would make sure 24/7 palliative and end of life care is available in all communities, including investment in hospices, so people can get the support they need in their local area.

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 16d

🚨 Palliative and end of life care services are being pushed to breaking point.

The @libdems.org.uk passed a new policy calling for urgent action at their party conference.

Here’s some of what they’re proposing – and what else they said about palliative care at the conference… 🧵 👇

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 21d

🚨Whether assisted dying is made legal or not, the UK government must fix the gaps in palliative care.

We have a neutral position on assisted dying. We’re not for or against it.

But we do believe EVERYONE should have access to good palliative care at the end of their life.

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 21d

We have a neutral position on assisted dying. We’re not for or against it. But we are against misinformation about end of life care.

If you need support or reliable information, we're here for you. Call us on 0800 090 2309 or visit our website. 💛

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 21d

👉 End of life care is similar but not the same.

It starts to be offered to people in the last year of their life. The aim is to help someone be as comfortable as possible in the time they have left, as well as making sure that practical things such as Wills are sorted out.

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 21d

Hospices provide people with palliative and end of life care.

👉 Palliative care is physical, emotional and practical support that helps you feel comfortable throughout your illness, rather than a cure. This can include painkillers and medications, physiotherapy, counselling and much more.

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 21d

❗It’s time to talk about all the misinformation being spread about hospice care as part of the assisted dying debate – including this post below.

Let us be clear. Assisted dying is still not legal in the UK and it is not available at hospices. ❌

Screenshot of a post from X, which reads: Assisted dying is already a thing in hospices.

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 28d

We're neutral on assisted dying, but we're not neutral on the need for better access to palliative and end of life care. We hope that throughout today's debate, peers recognise the importance of fixing palliative care, whether they support the bill or not.

#AssistedDyingBill

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · 28d

❗RECORD BREAKING 190 peers are expected to join and speak at the historic assisted dying debate which has started today in the House of Lords.

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · Sep 10

We have a neutral position on assisted dying.

We’re here to provide reliable information as the debate progresses and to advocate for better end of life care for everyone. 💛

Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · Sep 10

Finally, the Bill that is being debated in the House of Lords only applies to England and Wales.

In Scotland, a separate bill on assisted dying is being debated.

And in Northern Ireland, there’s no bill on assisted dying.

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · Sep 10

The assisted dying debate has also highlighted some of the current gaps in palliative and end of life care, like the postcode lottery of care.

Whether or not assisted dying is made legal, it’s vital the UK Government fixes these gaps.

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · Sep 10

People will still have access to palliative and end of life care if assisted dying becomes legal.

We’ll always be here to support people living with a terminal illness. 💛

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · Sep 10

If the House of Lords votes in favour of the Bill, assisted dying won’t immediately become available.

It’s thought it’ll take at least four years for assisted dying to become available.

So, nothing is changing immediately.

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Marie Curie UK @mariecurieuk.bsky.social · Sep 10

The first thing you need to know is that assisted dying is not legal in the UK.

It still needs to be debated by the House of Lords, where members will carefully review the Bill, suggest amendments and vote on it.

This process begins on Friday and doesn’t have a set end date yet.

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