Our five year strategy
The need, our vision for change and how we'll get there.
We need to close the gap in end of life care and make sure everyone gets the care and support they need.
The problem
1 in 4 people don't get the care and support they need. And the problem is growing, fast. People in the UK are living longer, with multiple and more complex health challenges. By 2048, the need for end of life care will have increased by up to 25%. And the people who miss out most are those from disadvantaged and marginalised communities.
Our vision
Everyone will be affected by dying, death and bereavement. That can't be changed; but the end of life experience can. Everyone deserves the best possible care and support, reflecting what's most important to them. We want a better end of life for all.
Our mission
Over the next five years and beyond, our mission is to close the gap in end of life care. Between now and 2028 we'll design and deliver services providing the best possible care and support to people living with any terminal illness, and those close to them. And we'll play a leading role in shaping the end of life system across the UK; driving research, influencing public policy, campaigning for change, and fighting for better services – so everyone has access to the end of life care and support they need.
Our action plan: how we’re closing the gap in end of life care
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We'll deliver care and support – when, where and how it's needed – to more people, including those with dementia and from underserved communities. We'll maximise resources and impact within existing services, as well as developing new or expanded services.
Our priorities are:
- Expanding our rapid response nursing services across the UK to provide vital crisis care and support in people's homes, overnight and at weekends.
- Innovating services and systems to make access to care and support as seamless as possible.
- Scaling our volunteer services to help us use resources more efficiently and close gaps in support.
- Increasing Advance Care Planning support to enable more people to openly discuss end of life preferences with loved ones, carers and healthcare professionals.
- Developing virtual hospice services to increase access to our wide range of specialist clinical care and holistic support.
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Many people have limited or no access to end of life care and support, due to geographic and other barriers. Growing our information and support services across multiple channels – phone, webchat, website, print, and an online community – will help us reach more people so they can be supported wherever and whenever they need.
Our priorities are:
- Providing Marie Curie's front door, so that more people affected by dying, death or bereavement, and healthcare professionals, can easily find the information, support and services they need.
- Increasing awareness and support for Marie Curie's end of life care, research and thought leadership, across our channels.
- Expanding support services, by providing individual Bereavement Support and Check in and Chat sessions to more people.
- Focusing on equity and accessibility, to ensure services are there for everyone who needs them. We'll work with communities and organisations to identify barriers and implement changes to overcome them.
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Many issues affecting people at the end of life can only be addressed structurally and systemically. As the UK's largest not for profit end of life care provider, and largest charitable funder of palliative care research, we're uniquely positioned to identify the key challenges and shape end of life care policy.
Our priorities are:
- Ending financial insecurity at the end of life, so everyone has the support they need to address their practical concerns.
- Ending inequity of end of life experience, so everyone can access excellent care and support.
- Ensuring excellent care for physical and mental health and wellbeing at end of life.
- Supporting family, friends and carers, during their experiences of terminal illness and bereavement.
Our action plan in numbers
By 2028 we will:
- Grow the number of people we care for directly each year, from 44,200 to 100,000.
- Grow the reach of our information and support services from 2.1 million to 4.4 million interactions a year.
- Grow our target number for people benefitting from our research, policy influencing and campaigns from 100,000 to 200,000 a year.
We can't do this without you
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References
1: Marie Curie calculation using Funding the right care and support for everyone - Palliative Care Funding review
2: Marie Curie: How many people need palliative care
3: Tobin J, Rogers A, Winterburn I, et al. (2021) Hospice care access inequalities: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care Published Online First: 19 February 2021. doi: 10.1136/ bmjspcare-2020-002719; Calanzani N, Koffman J, Higginson I J. (2013) Palliative and end of life care for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups in the UK: Demographic profile and the current state of palliative and end of life care provision. London: Marie Curie