Being able to see a doctor or nurse when we need to is probably something most of us take for granted.

 

There are many people who don’t have access to the care they need, even if they have a terminal or life limiting illness.

 

Wendy Webb tells us about her research...

Wendy Webb, who is a Senior Staff Nurse at Warwick Myton Hospice Inpatient Unit, has been looking at the difference being able to access palliative care makes and the gap in provision for those who are homeless. She is currently considering this as she studies for her PhD and has shared some of her research with us.

She writes:

I am conducting in depth interviews with older homeless adults, to find out what matters most to them when they consider end of life. At Hospice UK’s national conference this year I presented some early findings of my Doctoral research project as a poster 'The disadvantaged dying'. This PhD study explores the end of life priorities of people experiencing homelessness.

"Homeless people die on average 30 years younger than the housed population – the average age for females is 43 and 47 for males – and without adequate access to palliative and end of life care. This situation needs addressing. However we do not know what homeless people want at end of life. We must not automatically assume their needs mirror the needs of the general population."

 

What we can do to help...

We are keen to find out more as Wendy continues to share her research, and to see what we at Myton can do to help address the huge imbalance in access.

 

Want to know more?

If you would like to find out more about Wendy’s project, please click here.