Call for Increased Investment in Home-Based Palliative Care

A man whose terminally ill wife received care from hospice nurses at home before her death believes families should have the option to choose where their loved ones pass away. David Best, from Oxfordshire, has urged the government to increase investment in palliative care following the passing of his wife, Sarah, in 2022. Ahead of a parliamentary debate on proposals that would grant terminally ill individuals in England and Wales the right to choose to end their lives, Mr. Best stated that while he does not oppose assisted dying, his primary concern is for hospices to receive additional funding. This, he believes, would enable more people to access home-based care options. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has consistently stated that the palliative care system is not “where it needs to be to give people a real choice.” David recounted: “She [Sarah] had no wish to end her life prematurely, she didn’t have long to live anyway.” He further emphasized: “What I do very strongly believe is everybody should have the choice and be able to die at home if that is their wish.” Sarah received a diagnosis of advanced bowel cancer during a routine screening appointment in September 2021. Initially, she underwent chemotherapy in an attempt to reduce the tumor size; however, she experienced multiple complications, necessitating her admission to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. By March 2022, consultants informed Sarah that no further medical interventions were possible, and she was given only weeks to live. David then brought her back to their home in the village of Barford St John, where he transformed the dining room into a bedroom to enhance her comfort. District nurses visited daily to administer morphine through a syringe driver for pain relief. During the final month of her life, all four of the couple’s children returned home to assist in Sarah’s care, and they were present at her bedside when she died in May 2022, one day after her 63rd birthday. Lawrence Nurses, a small local charity that receives only 3% of its funding from the government, provided care for Sarah. Although she had the option to go to Katharine House hospice in Banbury, Sarah chose to remain at home and receive support from the charity, which her GP had recommended. Lawrence Nurses serves five GP surgeries in the Chipping Norton area, deploying qualified nurses who provide respite care and continuous home support for individuals nearing the end of their lives. The organization states it is the sole provider in the county capable of delivering this specific level of service. David commented: “The hospital try to make you comfortable but it’s much nicer being at home.” He added: “It was very dignified, it was very intimate….because we were all here at home where all the children had grown up and we have lots of happy memories, the support from the NHS and charity was second to none.” Operating hospice services in England incurs an annual cost exceeding £1.4 billion; however, only one-third of this amount is covered by government funding, with the remainder needing to be secured through donations. Lawrence Nurses has expressed a desire to expand its operations but currently receives only £21,000 from the government and must raise over £500,000 next year simply to sustain its existing services. David, at 70 years old, intends to run his first marathon next year to assist in fundraising for the charity, aiming to ensure other families receive necessary support. He further stated: “Knowing that Sarah didn’t have much time left, it was just such a wonderful relief to have these very caring nurses and compassionate nurses to help us look after Sarah.” A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care commented: “We want everyone to have access to high-quality end of life care and are aware of the financial pressures facing the hospice sector.“We are determined to shift more healthcare into the community and ensure patients and their families receive high-quality, personalised care in the most appropriate setting. Hospices will have a big role to play in that shift.” Members of Parliament are slated to debate and vote on the assisted dying bill on Friday.