More people will be able to choose to die at home under a package of measures announced by the government to support its End of Life Care Strategy.
The ten-year strategy published today will be backed with £286 million to provide high quality care for all adults approaching the end of their life and enable more people to die in the setting they choose, mainly at home surrounded by loved ones.
The strategy says PCTs will work with local authorities to set up rapid response community nursing services in all areas, which will be available 24/7. PCTs and hospices will be encouraged to work together to develop specialist palliative care outreach services to support all adults regardless of their condition.
Health and social care professionals will be trained to help them better assess the needs of patients and carers to ensure the best possible quality care is provided.
This care will be accessed. The Department of Health will work with the SHA Next Stage Review End of Life Care leads to develop quality standards against which PCTs and providers can assess themselves and be assessed by regulators.
Health secretary Alan Johnson said: "This increased funding will continue momentum for improvement and help make sure that everyone gets access to high quality palliative care and has choice about where that care takes place.
"People coming to the end of their lives and their loved ones deserve high quality, compassionate and dignified care, on their own terms. This strategy will help make that happen."