Terminally ill have a rightto palliative care says MP

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Bexhill MP, Huw Merriman, has pledged to champion the concerns of local people with a terminal illness by lending his support to Marie Curie’s campaign calling for the right for everyone to have palliative care when they need it.

Huw teamed up with Marie Curie Nurse Sally Monger-Godfrey and renowned impressionist Jon Culshaw to back the campaign from the UK’s leading charity for people living with any terminal illness and their families.

Huw said “The campaign comes as Marie Curie revealed that more than half of people over the age of 50 in the UK – of whom there are 26 million - are not confident that they will get the care they need towards the end of their life.

“Currently, one in four people each year who need palliative care miss out on it because their needs are not recognised and they are not referred on to the right services.

“To prevent this figure from increasing, Marie Curie is calling for a change in the way care is provided.”

Jon Culshaw, a valued supporter of Marie Curie, said: “Like most of us, I believe that everyone should have the right to palliative care when they need it. That’s why I’m supporting Marie Curie’s campaign to make this a reality.”

Huw has pledged to help ensure that any constituents who have a terminal illness know what services and benefits they are entitled to and work with local NHS services to improve access to and quality of palliative care for those who need it.

Scott Sinclair, Head of Policy and Public Affairs for England at Marie Curie, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Huw Merriman for supporting Marie Curie’s campaign. More needs to be done to ensure that people with a terminal illness get access to the high quality care and support they need and deserve.

“Making this a reality also requires support at a national level. The Government can play its part by investing in palliative and end of life care services to help transform the way care is provided locally to people with a terminal illness now and in the future.”

If you or someone you’re close to has a terminal illness, you can call the Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm or visit mariecurie.org.uk/help. You can also share experiences and talk to people in a similar situation .

Marie Curie provides care and support for people living with any terminal illness, and their families.

They have been carrying out this vital work for over 65 years – last year alone we cared for over 40,000 people across the UK.

Marie Curie nurses provide hands-on care in people’s homes. For more on the charity visit www.mariecurie.org.uk.

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