Good end of life care depends on good communication. When patients and families receive clear, honest and timely information, they are better able to face what lies ahead. When communication breaks down, the consequences can last a lifetime.
Since 2020, we have investigated complaints about palliative and end of life care services across England. We found that communication is the most common failing - patients not told their diagnosis, families kept in the dark, and vital information lost when people move between services.
In this report, we draw on the experiences of families and clinicians to set out where communication most often falls short and what needs to change.
Download the report [PDF 1.06MB]