Nearly one in three people in England are dying without the basic care they need in their final days, according to a major new study.
Researchers estimate that about 170,000 people each year spend their last days in pain, distress, or without essential support that should be available to everyone at the end of life.
The study, led by researchers from King’s College London and Hull York Medical School at the University of Hull, with contributions from the University of Edinburgh, is the first major analysis in more than a decade to measure unmet palliative care needs in England.
It was published in the Journal of Health Services Research & Policy.
Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life for people with serious illnesses by managing pain, symptoms, and emotional distress.
It also supports families during an extremely difficult time. Researchers found that many people who could benefit from this care are not receiving it, leaving them to face their final days without adequate medical or emotional support.
The findings suggest the situation may worsen as the population ages. If current trends continue, unmet palliative care needs are expected to rise by 21 percent over the next 25 years. By 2050, more than 212,000 people each year in England could die without the care they require.
Behind the statistics are deeply personal struggles. One woman from Leicestershire described how she fought to arrange night care for her terminally ill husband so he could die at home, as he wished.
She recalled feeling exhausted, frightened, and overwhelmed while making constant calls for help that was slow to arrive. Her experience highlights the heavy burden often placed on families when professional support is lacking.
Researchers say many people at the end of life are living with untreated pain and distress and do not feel supported by their primary care providers. They emphasize that this is happening during one of the most vulnerable periods in a person’s life, when compassionate care should be most accessible.
Experts warn that the healthcare system is struggling to keep up with the needs of an aging population. The growing gap between demand and available services means more families may face similar hardships in the future unless significant changes are made.
The UK government had planned to release a new framework for palliative and end-of-life care services, but its publication has been delayed. Advocacy groups argue that the plan could be a crucial opportunity to improve access to round-the-clock care in every community, provided it includes sufficient funding and resources.
Health leaders say the evidence is clear: many deaths involve avoidable suffering that could be reduced with better support. They stress that everyone deserves dignity, comfort, and proper care in their final days.
The study serves as a stark reminder that end-of-life care is not only a medical issue but also a matter of compassion and social responsibility. Ensuring that people do not face their last days in pain or isolation will require urgent attention from policymakers, healthcare providers, and communities alike.
