An estimated 22,000 people in the United Kingdom are expected to die without adequate dignity in their final days, a leading charity has warned as politicians enter their summer recess. The charity Marie Curie is urging the incoming prime minister, Andy Burnham, to establish a dedicated three-year fund totaling £200 million annually to improve palliative and end-of-life care, particularly for cancer patients.

The proposed investment aims to support the National Health Service's (NHS) long-term strategy to shift the delivery of palliative care away from hospitals and into community settings. Currently, approximately 81 percent of palliative care funding is allocated to hospital services, while only 11 percent is spent on community care. This imbalance means many patients cannot access the option to spend their final days in their preferred locations outside hospital environments.

Marie Curie’s chief executive, Matthew Reed, highlighted that establishing a dedicated fund could reduce non-elective hospital stays at the end of life by around 10 percent, allowing more patients to receive care in their communities. Reed emphasized that Burnham’s commitment to creating a fairer health service should include a strong focus on improving end-of-life care services.

The charity's call comes at a critical time as the government seeks to deliver on healthcare reforms and NHS funding commitments. By allocating resources specifically for community-based palliative care, the initiative aims to address both patient preferences and systemic inefficiencies in the provision of end-of-life services.