Teresa pledges to support high quality end of life care for LGBT people

New report launch on LGBT care; Marie Curie; Portcullis House, Westminster, London; 8th June 2016. © Pete Jones pete@pjproductions.co.uk

New report launch on LGBT care;
Marie Curie;
Portcullis House, Westminster, London;
8th June 2016.
© Pete Jones
pete@pjproductions.co.uk

 

Teresa yesterday pledged to support Marie Curie in calling for high quality palliative and end of life care for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people, following the release of the charity’s latest report ‘Hiding Who I am’: The reality of end of life care for LGBT people.’

Teresa was joined by Marie Curie Nurse, Tracey Meaning, to help launch the report, which has a forward written by writer Sandi Toksvig OBE, in Westminster earlier this week.

The report looks at the barriers that prevent LGBT people from accessing end of life care and highlights their real-life experiences. Findings show that nearly three-quarters (74%) of LGBT people are not confident that health and social care services provide sensitive end of life care for their needs1. As a result, they often delay accessing the care they need and are more likely to experience unmanaged symptoms and pain at the end of their lives.

Many of those interviewed by researchers at the University of Nottingham (The Last Outing) and King’s College London (ACCESSCare), said they felt anxiety about having to hide who they are when accessing end of life care. One in four had experienced discrimination from health and social care professionals in their lifetime.

Teresa Pearce MP, said:

“Learning about the prejudice LGBT people experience as they are dying, when they are at their most vulnerable, was deeply saddening.

I was happy to offer my support to Marie Curie in their fight to end discrimination in end of life care.”

Scott Sinclair, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Marie Curie, said:

“The support of Teresa Pearce MP is incredibly valuable as part of our call for high quality end of life care for LGBT people. No one should have to hide who they are at the end of their lives. If LGBT people are not confident about health and social care services, or have experienced discrimination in the past, they may not feel able to be open about themselves and the people who are important to them – factors that are all crucial to dying well.”

Anyone affected by terminal illness can contact the Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309 for help and support. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones. It is open Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm and Saturdays, 11am-5pm.

 

New report launch on LGBT care; Marie Curie; Portcullis House, Westminster, London; 8th June 2016. © Pete Jones pete@pjproductions.co.uk

New report launch on LGBT care;
Marie Curie;
Portcullis House, Westminster, London;
8th June 2016.
© Pete Jones
pete@pjproductions.co.uk

This entry was posted in News, Press Notices, Quotes. Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.