New statistics reveal a trend of increasing deaths occurring at home in Yorkshire and The Humber after the coronavirus pandemic, mirroring a national pattern. While hospital deaths have decreased, experts highlight the need for better access to supportive services and address concerns about socio-economic inequalities in care.
New statistics have revealed a trend of increasing deaths occurring at home in Yorkshire and The Humber following the coronavirus pandemic. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities recorded that 28.1 percent of all deaths took place at home during 2023. While this represents a slight decrease from the previous year's figure of 28.4 percent, it signifies a notable rise from the pre-pandemic level of 24.5 percent observed in 2019. This upward trend mirrors a national pattern, with 28.
4 percent of deaths in England occurring at home in 2023, marking a significant increase from 24.4 percent in 2019.Concurrently, there has been a decrease in hospital deaths, falling from 44.9 percent before the COVID-19 pandemic to 42.8 percent in 2023. In Yorkshire and The Humber, official figures indicate that 42.9 percent of deaths in 2023 occurred in hospitals, with 20.2 percent in care homes, and 6.2 percent in hospices. These figures emerge as the health and social care think tank, Nuffield Trust, states that the pandemic has 'amplified' the nationwide shift towards end-of-life care in the familiar surroundings of one's own home. However, the trust emphasizes the critical need for improved access to supportive services.Sarah Scobie, deputy director of research at the Nuffield Trust, commented on the trend: 'Deaths in hospitals have been going down, and I think that reflects a focus in policy to enable people to die in their place of choice and reduce people being rushed to the hospital or spending their last years in hospital beds.' She added that the urgent health situation during the pandemic heightened the preference for palliative care at home as individuals were more reluctant or unable to access hospitals, nursing facilities, or hospices. Ms. Scobie also highlighted a concerning gap in available data, particularly regarding community-based care, raising concerns about the accessibility of home services for those in need. 'There is also a concern around socio-economic inequality of service use,' she cautioned, stressing that those in the most deprived areas have fewer services available at home and are more likely to end up in emergency departments. Ms. Scobie emphasized that while the increase in home deaths 'doesn't have to be a problem,' ensuring equitable care presents significant challenges. She said: 'The services need to be there and need to be developed proportionately to make sure there is good access. Social care is a big part of that having help at home, personal hygiene care, and even additional help with activities like shopping or cooking.
Death Home Care Pandemic Yorkshire Hospital Social Care Inequality
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