Help people dying at home this winter
Over 5,000 of us signed a letter to Matt Hancock, asking him to make sure that everyone who died at home during the pandemic received the care they need.
Between mid-March and September 2020, nearly 26,000 more deaths occurred in people’s private homes compared to the last five-year average – an increase of over 40%.
More people died at home during 2020 than ever before, and we were concerned that many could have missed out on crucial care. It's vital that everyone who dies at home has the care and support they need to have a good death, with dignity and free from pain.
During the coronavirus pandemic we ramped up the support we provide in communities across the country, but we couldn't do it alone. That's why we called on the government to make sure nobody dying at home missed out on the care they needed.
We are still deeply concerned that many people at the end of life may have missed out on crucial care during the pandemic. Our Better End of Life report 2021 looked in more detail at the impact of the pandemic and the changes that are needed for the future.
We will continue to campaign until everyone who dies in the UK has the best possible experience at the end of their life. If your loved one died without getting all the care and support they needed, please consider sharing their experience with us to help our future campaigns.
Jackie's story
Jackie's Dad died from cancer during the peak of the first coronavirus lockdown. While caring for her Dad at home, she was told that local services were too stretched to provide the care and support they desperately needed.
“My father did not receive the appropriate care in the last weeks of his life. It’s a mixture of things that failed him. But I fear the lack of support and joined up thinking for people dying at home will continue to be a problem in future lockdowns. Six months on, I’m still incredibly sad and disappointed, and feel my Dad was incredibly let down by a system he worked for and had absolute faith in. I still struggle with the sense of loss and unfairness and I also feel incredibly guilty. I just kept thinking someone would tell us what to do and where to go to get help. But that didn’t happen and this breaks my heart.”
Also of interest
Bereavement support service
Read stories and opinion on Talkabout
