The UK government is discussing the country’s biggest challenges at the Labour party conference. But amid the speeches, announcements and headlines, it should not forget one of the clearest messages to emerge from parliament just two weeks ago – our palliative care system is not working for far too many people.

Throughout the assisted dying debate, MPs who disagreed deeply on the core issue, often agreed on one thing – our palliative care system urgently needs fixing. Some spoke from personal experience where they had seen relatives forced to wait hours in pain, or those who had to go to hospital instead of staying in their own homes because the right support wasn’t available.

They raised concerns that those from poorer backgrounds were more likely to struggle to access good quality palliative care and described the system as a “postcode lottery”, with some areas offering 24-hour specialist support in people’s homes, while in the next town over, A&E is the only option.

As attention turns to conference season and the next set of political priorities – including a new system of adult social care free at the point of delivery – there is a danger these concerns are forgotten. That must not happen. MPs were right to say palliative care needs urgent reform during the assisted dying debate; that urgency can’t disappear now the vote is over.

At Sue........

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