Committee, Great Britain House Of Commons. Health

Currently, around 56% of people die in hospital, 20% at home, 20% in nursing or residential homes and 4% in hospices. Yet surveys suggest that the majority of people would prefer to be supported to die in their own homes. We note the recent economic analysis which Marie Curie has produced of the potential cost benefits arising from a shift towards more patients dying at home and recommend that the Department assesses this carefully.

The social care system is widely seen as failing and it has long been clear that fundamental and lasting reform is necessary.  Reform is made all the more urgent as an ageing population will mean rising demand for care and support. Projected changes in demographics, availability of support from carers, unit costs of care and other factors indicate that social care in its current form will struggle to meet people's needs. Longer life need not mean more time spent in ill health. Improving public health and developing interventions for long-term conditions could pay major dividends.

The report and formal minutes of the Health Committee inquiry into the issues facing the future of social care. The report also makes recommendations to Government in advance of its White Paper on social care and update on funding. It discusses how a fully integrated system could be achieved with more efficient use of resources and the improved outcomes that it could deliver.

Additional written evidence presented to the Health Committee inquiry into the issues facing the future of social care, focusing on people aged 65 and older. The Committee looked at how a fully integrated system could be achieved with more efficient use of resources and the improved outcomes that it could deliver. Other issues discussed in volume 1 (the full report) are commissioning, the funding and staffing integrated services, the needs of carers, and the Dilnot Commission. Volume I contains the full report and recommendations; Volume II oral and written evidence.

1.. As one of our witnesses observed, "we all die … 100% mortality is an immutable fact and it is not actually a sign of failure".[1] However, death remains the last taboo. Every year about 520,000 people die in England, around a quarter of whom access some form of palliative care. Many patients experience "severe symptoms" and "psychosocial problems" in their last months of life.[2]

The social care system is widely seen as failing and it has long been clear that fundamental and lasting reform is necessary.  Reform is made all the more urgent as an ageing population will mean rising demand for care and support. Projected changes in demographics, availability of support from carers, unit costs of care and other factors indicate that social care in its current form will struggle to meet people's needs. Longer life need not mean more time spent in ill health. Improving public health and developing interventions for long-term conditions could pay major dividends.

Oral and written evidence presented to the Health Committee inquiry into the issues facing the future of social care, focusing on people aged 65 and older. A list of witnesses is also provided. The Committee looked at how a fully integrated system could be achieved with more efficient use of resources and the improved outcomes that it could deliver. Other issues discussed in volume 1 (the full report) are commissioning, the funding and staffing integrated services, the needs of carers, and the Dilnot Commission.