Commenting today (1 December) on the implications assisted dying will have on the NHS and the announcement of the launch of a palliative care commission, Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society for Acute Medicine, said: “The assisted dying debate brings into focus another area in the NHS and social care where resourcing is inadequate and harm and distress occurs on a daily basis for patients and their relatives.
“Many patients suffer predictable deterioration at the end of life; but due to a lack of specialist community support sadly end up dying in over-crowded acute medical units and emergency departments.
“Due to the appalling circumstances in urgent and emergency care services this can often lead to symptoms not being well controlled and adds to distress of loved ones. Acute medical teams always strive to deliver high quality end of life care and can do this well when there is sufficient capacity.
“There will always be end of life care delivered in acute medical units as often an acute event prior to death is not predictable. This is a further illustration of the importance of capacity within urgent care so that patients can receive high quality care at seminal times in their life.
“Sadly many patients who would prefer to die at home end up being admitted acutely at the end of life due to poorly controlled symptoms. This is largely due to insufficient and inadequate community services, and this is where initial investment needs to be focussed.
“The need for an independent commission on improving palliative care is long overdue and thus to be welcomed. An unprecedented transformation of end of life care is needed so patients and their families can have their wishes respected; there is only one chance to get it right.”