Canadians Overwhelmingly Endorse Palliative Care

NEW HARRIS DECIMA SURVEY SHOWS NEAR UNANIMOUS CANADIAN SUPPORT FOR END OF LIFE CARE

OTTAWA- Canadians across the country are almost unanimous with 96% of Canadians supporting Palliative Care in a recent Harris/Decima survey. Timmins-James Bay MP Charlie Angus says that now is the time for parliament to follow Canadians as he leads a parliamentary fight for a national strategy on improving access to palliative and hospice care with his parliamentary motion M-456.

“All across the country Canadians understand the importance of palliative care in their lives. This is a clear message for the Liberal and Conservative parties to join the NDP motion calling for the federal government to take a more active role in end-of-life care.”

Additional Highlights from the survey show that Canadians believe that end of life care: Helps a patient manage their choices along the way (93%); Greatly reduces the stress and burden placed on the family (93%); Improves quality of life for patients (94%); Should be provided in the patient’s setting of choice (93%); and Should be integrated for all people with chronic, life-limiting conditions (90%)

Angus is now calling on this Pan-Canadian consensus be reflected in parliament so that the Canadian government can provide the badly needed leadership on this issue.

“Canadians see Ottawa has been missing in action on end-of-life care for too long and this survey shows a clear desire for change. My motion calls for the Federal government to play a key role in working with the Provinces and Territories on establishing best practises and targets that should be met. “

The Harris/Decima survey was conducted for The Way Forward, a three year nation-wide initiative that is working with healthcare professionals and governments to integrate high quality hospice palliative care earlier into the ongoing care of Canadians with serious life-limiting illness.