Patients positive on palliative care, survey finds

£6.4m in Welsh government funding was given to hospitals and hospices during 2012-13 for palliative care

People should have access to high quality care wherever they choose to die, said the health minister.

Mark Drakeford's comments come as families and patients rated palliative care services 9.56 out of 10 in the first such survey of its kind in Wales.

About 32,000 people die in Wales every year, many following a chronic illness and about 75% receive palliative care.

In April, Marie Curie Cancer Care called for dying patients to have more of a say about their care.

Mr Drakeford said: "People should have access to high quality care wherever they live or choose to die, whatever their underlying disease or disability."

Baroness Ilora Finlay, Wales' clinical lead for palliative care, said Welsh government investment in such care over the last five years was now paying off.

Simon Jones, head of policy and public affairs at Marie Curie, said the Welsh government's End of Life Care Delivery Plan was an "important assessment of palliative and end of life care services".

He added: "It is crucial that progress in this area continues so everyone with end of life care needs is able to access and benefit from these services, regardless of where they live or their underlying condition."