Why hospitals?Because that’s where most people need palliative care.
Patients with the most complex needs are usually in hospital. The environment is busy and pressured, but patients should still expect treatment for their underlying illness and effective management of pain and distressing symptoms.
In many hospitals, routine access to specialist palliative care is still concentrated in weekday daytime hours—yet distress and uncertainty do not follow a nine-to-five schedule.
The realityHospices are vital—but hospitals remain where most people are cared for.
Specialist hospice care plays a valuable role. But there are not enough hospice beds to address the problem nationally, and hospital care remains essential.
Building more hospice capacity alone does not remove the need in acute hospitals: many people who could benefit are already in hospital for tests or treatment, and—when symptoms are well controlled and there is a clear plan—many would prefer to go home if enough support is available in the community.
- of people die in a hospital.
- 50%
- of patients die in a hospice.
- 5%
- specialist palliative care is not guaranteed in hospitals.
- 24/7
What this meansPatients and families deserve relief—and fast.
When people are very unwell, it is unacceptable not to treat pain or other distressing symptoms. Patients and families need to know relief will be effective and that it will arrive quickly—whatever the time of day or night.