Marie Curie has welcomed the UK Government’s plan to develop a Palliative and End of Life Care Modern Service Framework for England, while warning that it must lead to rapid, tangible change to prevent people dying in pain or without adequate support.
Government announcement
Care Minister Stephen Kinnock revealed the plans at the Hospice UK conference in Liverpool on 25th November 2025. The framework, expected in spring 2026, aims to end the postcode lottery in palliative and end of life services by creating national standards, improving access and strengthening long-term sustainability. Kinnock described the framework as a “great opportunity to improve the access, quality, and sustainability” of care. It will include five components, among them stronger leadership, fair funding and integration into neighbourhood health teams.
The framework builds on existing strategies, including NHS England’s Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care, relaunched in 2021 to promote local collaboration to improve experiences of death, dying and bereavement.
Evidence of growing pressure
Marie Curie has repeatedly warned of a national crisis in end-of-life care. Around 500,000 people in England need palliative support each year, and an estimated one in four miss out. Government data shows that in 2023, 47,061 deaths occurred in care homes, yet specialist support remains inconsistent, with many people experiencing emergency admissions during their final 90 days.
Demand is projected to rise sharply. By 2048, palliative care needs could increase by 147,000 people across the UK, driven by an ageing population expected to grow by 92%. Findings from Marie Curie’s 2024 Better End of Life report, based on 1,179 bereaved relatives, showed that 49% were unhappy with at least one aspect of care and that nearly half of dying individuals attended A&E in their last three months due to lack of community support.
What Marie Curie says the framework must deliver
Marie Curie argues that the new framework must address the following:
- Strong national leadership and standards so people receive the same high-quality care wherever they live.
- A fair and sustainable funding model, including proper workforce planning.
- Earlier identification of people who need palliative care and stronger integration with neighbourhood health services.
- Round-the-clock access to specialist advice and support, including palliative care expertise in A&E to help people reach their preferred place of care.
Charity leaders respond
Dr Sarah Holmes, chief medical officer at Marie Curie, said: “This commitment is an important step in the right direction, but there is a lot of work to do to fix the realities that dying people and their families are facing every day. We see too many people in pain, too many crisis admissions to hospital and too many people going without the care, support and dignity they deserve at the end of life.”
She added: “If this strategy is to make a difference, it must deliver concrete action to provide consistent, high quality, 24/7 support in every part of the country. Marie Curie looks forward to working closely with the government to ensure it does just that.”
Matthew Reed, chief executive of Marie Curie, said: “Marie Curie welcomes the UK Government’s commitment to produce a Palliative and End of Life Care Modern Services Framework for England – a vital step forward. Promises now need to become action. We stand ready to work with the government and the NHS to turn today’s commitments into real change. Too many people are dying in pain, frightened and without support, and too many families are left to cope alone in their darkest hours, with nowhere to turn. This must change.”
Reed added that the charity has “long called for 24/7 access to palliative care in every community, personalised support from skilled professionals, and a system that joins up care”. He highlighted that Marie Curie is already placing nurses in GP surgeries and primary care networks, as well as supporting A&E teams to identify people at the end of life and help them return to their preferred place of care. “Much, much more needs to be done across the whole health and social care system to ensure that everyone can die with dignity,” he said.
Hospice UK chief executive Toby Porter welcomed the “firm and clear commitment” from government but urged immediate fair funding for hospices, including NHS contracts that reflect rising costs such as National Insurance increases.
Local innovations demonstrate potential impact
Marie Curie is already introducing new models of care that reflect what a national strategy could achieve:
- Plymouth: A specialist nurse placed within GP surgeries in Estover is helping identify people in their last year of life and offering guidance on support and Advance Care Plans.
- Bradford: The Marie Curie Responsive Emergency Assessment and Community Team (REACT) identifies people at end of life who arrive in A&E. The team prevents unnecessary hospital admissions by transferring patients to a community-based virtual ward for holistic 72-hour support.
These initiatives align with recommendations in the NHS England National Delivery Plan for 2022–2025, which prioritises better access and long-term sustainability.
A critical moment for reform
Experts warn that unless workforce shortages and funding gaps are addressed, pressures on end of life services will continue, leaving vulnerable people dependent on overstretched care. Marie Curie’s response highlights that the development of the new framework marks a pivotal opportunity for meaningful reform, where policy commitments must translate into consistent, compassionate support for everyone facing terminal illness.
