The state of end-of-life care in the UK is under threat as millions of pounds of funding are failing to reach dying patients the End of Life Care Strategy has revealed.

In 2008 the Labour Government pledged £286 million over three years for the improvement of palliative care in hospitals. However this money has not been ring-fenced which has led to huge variations in the care of dying patients as trusts find their funding streams under pressure. Last year eight primary care trusts spent nothing at all on this area and fourteen invested less than £100,000. This is in contrast to eleven who spent more than £1 million each.

A spokesperson for the ProLife Alliance said:

“At a time when PCTs find their funding under pressure it will become increasingly tempting to cut corners, particularly in the area of end-of-life care. However they need to withstand that pressure and ensure that care for the dying receives the full funding it needs.”