Scheme to help dying stay at home
Published: Wednesday, 16 July 2008, 12:27PM
A multimillion-pound strategy to support people as they come to the end of their lives is being launched.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson and Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis are to announce new measures to provide better support and care to those who wish to die at home.
People will be given more control over where they die and will be encouraged to make their wishes known.
More support for carers, community nurses on call 24/7 in all areas, and better training for staff are included in the ten-year strategy for England.
Mr Johnson said: "You go back to the beginning of the 20th century and people were familiar with death - many people died at home, they died of diseases at a young age.
"When the NHS came along... as a result people die in hospitals whether they want to or not, and sometimes there are issues about how they die in hospitals. But the big issue for us today is to give the choice to everyone.
He said the Government will be putting £286 million into the project over the next three years.
© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.
