‘Failure of care’ as cancer patients die in pain needlessly

THOUSANDS of cancer patients are dying in needless pain because of disjointed care for people who have returned home to be with loved ones.

Data from Macmillan Cancer Support reveal one in 10 people who die of cancer have inadequate pain relief in their final 48 hours. Charities have criticised the Office for National Statistics figures as “unacceptable”, and called on the Government to improve the standard of palliative care.

Macmillan said fears of uncontrollable pain were cancer patients’ top concern. The organisation says 12,000 people who died from the disease in 2015 were not properly cared for in the final stages.

The statistics showed patients were four times more likely to die in pain at home than in hospital. Lynda Thomas, Macmillan chief executive, said: “We need better-coordinated care to help prevent this anguish.”

A Department of Health spokesman said: “We are fully committed to improving cancer outcomes for everyone, including palliative care, which we know is not always good enough.”