Nursing cuts leave dying on their own

DYING patients are being left in pain for up to eight hours because the NHS has axed the number of nurses who do home visits, a report reveals.

There are now just 4,358 district nurses – who care for terminally ill and housebound elderly – in England, down from 12,620 in 2003. It means patients are left ‘frightened’ and in ‘discomfort’ because of delays.

A major review by health charity The King’s Fund published today concludes there is now ‘clear evidence’ that the rationing of NHS funds is having a significant effect on patient care across the board.

Last week it emerged that NHS England had ordered health trusts to stop rationing hip and knee replacements to patients who were not in enough pain. But today’s report found the NHS has cut the number of hip replacements for the first time since 2000 despite increas- ing demand. The number of patients waiting 18 weeks for hip or knee surgery rose 45 per cent in the last year. The report also shows how the NHS is cutting back the care of dying patients. One hospice manager said patients ‘in the last two to three days of their life’ were waiting ‘up to eight hours’ at night for a district nurse to come and administer pain relief. And patients who are almost housebound are being told to visit their GP rather than rely on district nurses.

Last night the Department of Health said ‘blanket restrictions on treatment are unacceptable’ but the NHS does 5,000 more operations a day compared to 2010, ‘so accusations of inappropriate rationing are misplaced’. It added that it was investing £10billion in the NHS, plus £2billion for social care.