Meeting Marie Curie to talk Palliative Care Access

This week I attended Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. Many of you reached out to ask that I visit the Marie Curie stand there. I took the opportunity to talk with their team about the lack of access to palliative care in Waltham Forest and Redbridge and understand their national priorities.

According to Marie Curie, in Leyton and Wanstead, 52% of deaths currently take place in hospital – higher than the national average. Too many families here are seeing loved ones spend their final days unable to receive the care they need in their own home or community.

Marie Curie has welcomed the NHS’s ten‑year plan to expand care in the community, but areas like ours need improvements so that people can access the support they deserve. I support Marie Curie’s call for a national strategy on palliative and end of life care, and will continue to engage with our local NHS and councils on how we can deliver better services in our area. Thank you to everyone who has been in contact about this important issue.