New report on Preferences and Place of Death

"Local preferences and place of death in regions within England"

by Barbara Gomes, Natalia Calanzani, Irene J Higginson (August 2011)

This report, commissioned by the National End of Life Care Intelligence Network and published by Cicely Saunders International, is now available on the National End of Life Care Intelligence Network website.

The report provides up to date regional information on people's preferences for place of death and draws attention to the gap between preferences and reality in England. We hope the information helps plan and improve end of life care, allowing more people to die at their preferred place.  It has been cited by the Secretary of State for Health at the recent Help the Hospices conference in September : 

http://mediacentre.dh.gov.uk/2011/09/26/speech-26-september-2011-andrew-lansley-help-the-hospices/

"I really can't overstate how important choice is, particularly when it comes to end of life care. We want to make sure the wishes of the patient and the family come first. Moving towards a system where everybody is supported in how they want to die. The recent report from Cicely Saunders International on local preferences and place of death told us yet again that most people would prefer to be cared for and to die at home. But sadly, it also found that for many people, it just doesn't work out that way." Rt Hon Andrew Lansley, Secretary of State for Health, September 2011