MP joins call for action on palliative care

Chloe Smith, MP for Norwich North, is backing Marie Curie’s campaign for better palliative care. The campaign, organised by one of the UK’s leading care charities, aims to ensure that support is always available for anyone living with terminal illness and for their families.

The call follows new research revealing that less than half of people over 50 in the UK, over 12 million people, have confidence that they will get the care they need towards the end of their life.

Each year one in four of those who need palliative care miss out. Often their needs are not recognised and they are not referred on to the right services.  A change is needed in the way palliative care is delivered.

Commenting on the campaign Chloe said:

“All of us want the comfort of knowing that we and our loved ones will be able to spend the last days of our lives free from pain, with dignity and care at the place our choosing. For too many people though this is not the case.

“As our population continues to get older the challenges will only increase. Good palliative care is vital, so I’m delighted to pledge my support for Marie Curie’s campaign.”

Chloe has pledged to help raise awareness of what services and benefits those with a terminal illness are entitled to; and to work with local NHS services to improve access to and quality of palliative care for those who need it. This ties in with Chloe’s ongoing support for NHS services in Norwich, which was a key election pledge.

Chloe’s recent casework and work in Parliament points to the need for good quality end of life care.

Anyone with a terminal illness, or those affected, can call the Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. More information on the support available can be found at https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/help.