Call For More Support For Cancer Patients

74.7% of cancer patients in Northern Ireland would have preferred to die at home, however only 38.2% did, according to a report published by Queen's University and Cancer Focus NI.

The report, 'Dying with Cancer – Perspectives of Bereaved Relatives and Friends', which was taken over a six-month period, identifies key factors influencing what enables cancer patients to die at home if that is their preference.

While almost three quarters expressed a preference to die at home, only over a third of patients actually died at home, 41.1% in hospital, 12.0% in a hospice and 8.8% in a care home.

The report was compiled by researchers from the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, Centre for Public Health at Queen's and was funded by local charity, Cancer Focus NI.

Information from 467 relatives/carers of cancer patients in Northern Ireland who died in the period December 2011 – May 2012 were analysed.

(CD/JP)