End of life care in England: A briefing paper
Article
Death is an inevitable part of life. We will all die and almost all of us will experience the death of someone close to them. Dying is an incredibly important life stage, but for too many people the end of life can often be an unnecessarily difficult experience.
Every year in England and Wales over 500,000 people die. For three-quarters of these people, death does not come suddenly. Instead, dying is a process that may take days, weeks or even years, involving a progressive decline in functioning and frequent interactions with health professionals. During this time, many receive some form of end of life care, designed to ease any pain or distress caused by their symptoms, and to maximise their quality of life until the moment of their death.
The value of this care cannot be understated, not just for those people who are reaching the end of their lives but also for their families and carers.
Related items
State of the North 2025 - The kids aren't alright: How to deliver for young people in the North
This year’s State of the North report highlights how regional inequality exacerbates the growing challenges facing many young northerners.The transport challenge for low-income households
Many people living on low incomes in the UK are limited in their ability to access the building blocks of a good life because of poor transport provision.Towards universal opportunity for young people
Outlining a vision for young people which could increase social mobility while also reducing inequality and disadvantage, so that every young person has the opportunity to build a decent life.