Greater choice for dying patients

The plan aims to allow dying patients to be cared for at home, if they wish.

The NHS and Marie Curie Cancer Care are launching a scheme in parts of Norfolk and Suffolk to help dying patients.

The charity estimates 64% of people would like to die at home but at the moment only 25% achieve this.

Great Yarmouth and Waveney Primary Care Trust is the eighth trust in the UK to sign up to the Marie Curie "Delivering Choice" initiative.

Director of Nursing Pam Fenner said it was designed to give people the best possible palliative care.

The launch of the 24-hour service at Ditchingham All Hallows Hospital came in the week that a national watchdog said terminally ill people and their families were being let down when it came to care at the end of their lives.

The National Audit report cast doubt on the government's plans to improve palliative care, but ministers said it was "right on track".