‘Support in Rugby is minimal or inconsistent at best’: Push to end postcode lottery around end-of-life care in Warwickshire
A Rugby councillor who is battling cancer is uniting with other councillors behind efforts to end the postcode lottery around care for people with terminal illnesses.
A question brought by Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Lib Dem, Eastlands) at this week’s meeting of Warwickshire County Council highlighted “minimal or inconsistent at best” support in Rugby.
He called for pressure to be applied to NHS chiefs who commission those services, in particular those related psychological and quality-of-life support for patients in the earlier stages of palliative care.
He said: “The portfolio holder will recognise the psychological and emotional support for people receiving palliative and end-of-life care, and for their families, varies considerably across Warwickshire, and that in Rugby such support is minimal or inconsistent at best.
“What action will she take to help remedy this and will she raise it directly with the Integrated Care Board (ICB) which has the statutory duty to commission palliative care?”
Portfolio holder for adult social care and health Councillor Anne-Marie Sonko (Reform UK, Earl Craven) acknowledged the problems, including some stark warnings about the struggles faced by hospices.
“I recognise the concern you are raising,” she said.
“End-of-life care has been the subject of quite a lot of discussion recently, at the Health & Wellbeing Board and also at scrutiny, particularly the availability of hospices.
“There are ongoing conversations. I will raise it directly with the ICB which commissions all of these services to seek clear assurance that variation is being addressed across the county.
“We can’t have inequalities as they are at the moment and (we will seek to ensure) that a consistent minimum standard is put in place county-wide that they should all meet.
“I will ensure progress is reported through our joint governance, including through scrutiny and the Health & Wellbeing Board. We will keep on top of that and report back on it to put everyone’s mind at rest.
“I don’t think everyone actually realises how little funding goes through to end-of-life care and how much we rely on charities, et cetera. That’s another thing we want to look at, more communication on that.
“I am committed to working with partners to secure high-quality support for all residents at the end of life.”
Cllr Roodhouse added: “End of life can go on, not just for a year or six months but a number of years.
“Palliative care is a route for the quality of life for the individual concerned. One of the key issues around this is the question around psychology and mental support. Can she give those assurances that they are the extremely valuable bits for people in palliative pathways, especially as they go through years one, two and three in cancer treatment, or other particular treatments or illnesses they have?
“There are quite clearly discrepancies in Rugby compared with other parts of the county. If you speak to the Myton Day Hospice they will support that.”
Cllr Sonko offered no further comment.