National Survey of Patient Activity Data for Specialist Palliative Care Services

MDS full report for the year 2011-2012

Published: 19 June 2013

This report is an update to the annual national survey of patient activity data for specialist palliative care services, minimum data set (MDS). It looks at a wide range of specialist palliative care issues, including inpatient activity, day care, community care, hospital support, bereavement support, outpatients, staffing, diagnoses and services for young people.

The MDS was developed in 1995. The aim of the MDS is to provide good quality, comprehensive data about hospice and specialist palliative care services on a continuing basis. They are used to inform:

• service management
• service monitoring and audit
• development of local palliative care and end of life care strategy planning
• commissioning of services
• development of national policy

This year’s report shows an increase in the availability and use of inpatient specialist palliative care beds in England. It also shows that people receiving specialist palliative care are more likely to die at home and that there has been considerable progress in opening up specialist palliative care services to non-cancer patients.

To download the report, please visit National Survey of Patient Activity Data for Specialist Palliative Care Services

To view the NCPC media release, please visit www.ncpc.org.uk