The first pilot project in the Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme has helped to double the number of terminally ill people able to die at home, according to emerging findings from King’s Fund research.

For patients benefiting from Delivering Choice services in Boston, Lincolnshire:

• 42% were able to die at home (from 17% before the programme was implemented)


• Deaths in hospital dropped from 63% to 45%


• The cost of end of life care did not increase

The findings are to be unveiled on the second day of Lord Darzi’s NHS Next Stage Review International Clinical Summit by Marie Curie Cancer Care Chief Executive Tom Hughes-Hallett.

The research also shows that 66% of terminal hospital patients expressed a preference to be cared for at home, even if they required complex care.

Tom Hughes-Hallett said: “These results have massive significance in the UK at a time when end of life care is pushing up the healthcare agenda.

“I would like Delivering Choice to be taken up by every healthcare authority for them to learn from the extraordinary story of Lincolnshire.

“These results have been achieved by the NHS and social services, brought together by Marie Curie Cancer Care, working together.”

National Cancer Director Professor Mike Richards said: “The results of the Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme in Lincolnshire are extremely exciting.

“They demonstrate that close partnership working between the NHS and the voluntary sector can give major benefits for patients at the end of their lives, and can be cost effective.”

The programme has since been rolled out to six further UK areas.

by Marie Curie Cancer Care