9 February 2009

End of Life Quality Markers

The English Community Care Association (ECCA), the leading representative body for independent care homes, has responded to the development of quality markers for end of life care.

Martin Green, Chief Executive of ECCA, says:

“We welcome these quality markers, but feel they must be part of an integrated approach to regulation.  Good end of life care is very much at the heart of what residential providers deliver and it is important that this is both acknowledged in the regulatory system and also understood by those who commission and resource care”.

Martin Green continues:

“The Department of Health has put money into end of life care as a result of the End of Life Care Strategy, but we are disappointed that this money has gone to the base budgets of PCTs and there seems to be little or no accountability for how it is spent and little acknowledgement that much end of life care happens in residential establishments.  It is time the Government acknowledged that if it has a policy of a mixed economy of care, it must deliver resources to the people who provide services; rather than constantly throwing it at statutory systems they need to put it straight into care services”.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

• ECCA works to ensure that care services are commissioned fairly, efficiently and on a properly funded basis, to meet the true costs of providing appropriate care   
•  Contact ECCA press on 020 7492 4844 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it