Investment showing care and compassion
THE greatness of a nation is revealed by how well it takes care of its most vulnerable citizens, and on that score Wales can be praised for today’s announcement.
An extra £1m is being invested in improving end-of-life care services – as outlined on our health pages today – and this is a welcome allocation of cash.
Human experience tells us that although death is inevitable for us all, it is extremely difficult to cope with when it comes too soon. Any diagnosis that could potentially shorten a patient’s life is a devastating hammer blow for that person and their loved ones.
It unleashes so many emotions and questions about care, practicalities, and the information needed to help support the patient and their family in need. There is enough uncertainty and natural fear of the unknown to get to grips with, without those affected facing any unnecessary, bewildering or confusing situations.
So having the answers and services across primary and secondary care, and the voluntary sector, to make a real difference is vital – and this is particularly true, as those with a diagnosis today may live longer with a terminal illness or disability through advances in technology.
The three Cs – quality care, compassion and choice – are significant factors in ensuring those facing the end of their days are both physically and emotionally as comfortable as possible, whether at home, hospital or hospice, with what so sadly lies ahead. Planning, training, resources, research and technology make a major difference, too.
The more conversations and understanding that can be given around a person’s illness or disability and the choices they do have, the better, and this is something the Welsh Government’s three-year strategy aims to help achieve, with key support for what the patient, their family and the medics believe is important.
As the Health Secretary says: “[It] reaffirms our commitment to ensuring people have a healthy, realistic approach to dying, and are able to plan appropriately for the event...”
The fact the plan is in place is a marker of how important patients’ rights are today. The fact it’s received £1m shows just how important it is to get right and fund properly. The fact that there are several new multi-million-pound specialist schemes aimed at delivering the best possible palliative care is reassuring and heartening.
Such measures and ambition feel like the marker of a nation taking seriously its responsibility to treat those needing end-of-life care with dignity and this commitment must continue as we face the challenges of an austerity-stricken 21st century with an ageing population.
But this commitment should not only travel the corridors of power or healthcare providers. A vital component is encouraging everyone to talk more openly about death, dying and bereavement – with our family, friends, as a nation – because this, too, helps give all those affected by such heart-rending news the dignity of being treated with integrity.