Latest news with #GarethMiles
Sky News
3 days ago
- General
- Sky News
'Breaking point' as people in last 12 months of life occupy 'almost a fifth of Welsh hospital beds'
People in the last 12 months of their life occupy "almost a fifth of Welsh hospital beds", according to a end of life care charity. Marie Curie Cymru says end of life care in Wales is "at breaking point" and is calling on the next Welsh government to ensure high-quality care. The charity says that, for many, support could be better provided at home or close to home, as it launched its manifesto for next year's Senedd election at Cardiff Bay's Norwegian Church on Tuesday. Gareth Miles died at home in Llanddarog, Carmarthenshire, in September 2023. Mr Miles, who had Parkinson's disease, had spent 10 weeks in hospital before his last week. His daughters, Branwen, Eiry and Elen, are calling for better care at home for those who have a palliative or end-of-life care condition. "Once [her father] was in hospital, even though he was better after 10 days, he couldn't be discharged because he lost the care package," she said. "He was being supported by carers twice a day because of his Parkinson's and his arthritis, and without the carers, we would have been unable to care for him ourselves. "So he spent a long time in hospital, waiting for a care package to be reinstated and, while he was there, his condition deteriorated." While calling for "better links" between health and social care, Mrs Miles said the support from Marie Curie was "invaluable". "Without their support, my father would have been stuck in hospital and his death would have been very painful for all of us, in quite a distressing environment," she added. 'Surrounded by his family' Remembering her father fondly, she said he was a "great person" with a "very fulfilling life". "He saw himself as a very lucky man because, as well as being able to do a job that he loved, he also had family and friends that loved him," she added. "So it was just very sad then that he spent the end of his life in those circumstances. "But luckily, we were able to bring him home and he had what he would call a good death in the end, surrounded by his family. "My intention through sharing this just to hopefully raise awareness of the issue and hopefully make sure that other people are aware of the support that they have." Natasha Davies, senior policy manager for Marie Curie Cymru, told Sky News the palliative and end of life care system in Wales was at "breaking point" and "under immense pressure". "The result of that is that too many people are not able to access the care and the support that they need, when they need it, where they need it," she said. "I think what those experiences show us is the profound impact that getting this right can have, not just on the person who's terminally ill, but also on those close to them." Ms Davies acknowledged hospital would be "the right and best place" for some people to receive their care. "But for others, we know that those hospital admissions, particularly via emergency department, could be reduced or avoided," she added. The Welsh government said: "Good palliative and end of life care can make a huge difference to those with life-limiting illness, helping them to die with dignity, and help the grieving process for those left behind. "We provide more than £16m a year to make sure everyone has access to the best possible end of life care. This includes setting national standards, boosting community services and ensuring people receive the support they need. "We are working with health boards and local authorities, supported by monthly discharge data, to improve the safe discharge of patients from hospital. This applies equally to people requiring end of life care."
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
End-of-life care in Wales 'at breaking point', says Marie Curie
People are living their final days "isolated, in pain and struggling to make ends meet" due to gaps in end-of-life care, a leading charity has said. Marie Curie said one in five hospital beds in Wales were occupied by people in the last year of their lives and "bold, radical" action was needed for services which were at "breaking point". One family said they had to fight to ensure their 85-year-old father could die peacefully at home rather than in a hospital ward. The Welsh government said it provided more than £16m a year to ensure people had access to the best possible end-of-life care. While the charity said a hospital setting is the best possible place for many palliative care patients, many want to spend their final days at home or in the community. Gareth Miles, 85, spent 10 weeks on a ward his family felt did not meet the needs of an older man living with Parkinson's disease. His daughter Eiry Miles said: "There were very lovely staff working on the ward, they were very kind to us, but he [Mr Miles] was in the wrong place."When we realised that Dad's life was coming to an end, we wanted conversations with him, quiet conversations. We wanted to express our feelings, express our love for him."Despite a "great" social worker also recognising home was the best place for Mr Miles, the family said a lack of carers in the community meant he was unable to return. "This situation clearly shows that there are not enough carers, that the profession is not funded sufficiently," added Ms Miles. With the help of Marie Curie , Mr Miles eventually returned to his family home in Carmarthenshire, which his family described as "priceless". Ms Miles added: "When Dad came home there was a change in him straight away, a peaceful feeling."When he laid on the bed at home, he just said 'oh, dyma braf' – 'this is nice' in Welsh - because it was just quiet and peaceful, there was birdsong outside and people he knew around him."Mr Miles died four days later in his home, exactly where he wanted to be. Marie Curie said gaps in care meant "too many people are spending their final days isolated, in pain, and struggling to make ends meet". "End of life care in Wales is at breaking point," said Senior Policy Manager Natasha Davies."Services and staff are struggling to deliver the care people need, when and where they need it. There is an urgent need for change."The charity recognised while hospital was the best place for many palliative care patients, better community and out-of-hours care would allow people to be cared for in their homes."It also means having meaningful conversations with dying people about their care preferences, so their wishes are heard and respected," added Ms Davies. The Welsh government said good palliative and end-of-life care could make a "huge difference" to helping people die with dignity. It said it provided more than £16m a year to make sure people had access to the best possible end-of-life care, including setting national standards and boosting community services.
