last days in hospital

By: Yoko

Original source:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22483984

In Care of the dying ‘socisty’s litmus test’, author, Prof Mayur Lakhani wrote about how to accept death and he aims to change the attitude toward death.

According to a survey by British Social Attitudes, launched to mark Dying Matters Awareness Week, only 7 percent of us say that the hospital is the place we want to end our days, while two thirds say that home is the best place to die. Unfortunately, there is a big gap in wishes and reality. In reality, one in five of us will die in our own home as against over 50 percent of us will die in hospital.

To deal with this situation, government has to take action. Clinical Commissioning groups are making a hospital room for a terminal patient more comfortable by reforming. Some people are against to spend money to this area with in the light of Francis report, but how we care for the dying is a measure of our society and this action should be supported. Government also has to plan for the future and make it clear how we should support older people in the last years of life.  The number of people over the age of 85 is set to double over the next 20 years.

We also have to try to bring back dying into people’s homes. Government should enrich resources of communities. Medical professions have to think about different approach to care. And everyone has to think about death more optimistically. We should plan for death and make sure dying people get the dignified and compassionate care they need.

I strongly agree that government should pay attention to health situations. Many people want to spend last days in home, but they choose hospital. I think the biggest reason why they choose hospital is that in the hospital, medical professionals can treat patient immediately. As a pharmacist in the making, I felt responsibility to think about how we care dying people in the hospital. I didn’t know that such a lot of patients spend last days in hospital against their willing. Even if the government tries s to improve hospital environment, if the medical stuffs don’t understand patient feelings, people won’t be confortable in hospital. To improve hospital will enrich patient's heart.