'Huge improvement' in care for dying in Wales

Around 32,000 people die in Wales every year, largely following a chronic illness such as heart disease, cancer or dementia.

Three-quarters of people have some form of palliative care at the end of their life.

A new report published by the Welsh government shows that families and patients are positive about the care they received.

The report gives a comprehensive overview of palliative care services in Wales.

The first end-of-life care annual report shows:

  • 80% of urgent specialist palliative care referrals were assessed within the agreed timescale

  • 94% of the responses to the iWantGreatCare evaluation of experiences of specialist palliative care were positive

  • The average Welsh score was 9.56 out of 10

Baroness Ilora Finlay, clinical lead for palliative care for Wales, said those coming to the end of their lives deserved the best of care.

She told BBC Radio Wales there had been a huge improvement over the last five years.

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