The Macmillan Cancer Support charity has called on ministers to provide free social care at the end of life, following a critical report by the Local Government Information Unit (LGIU).

The think-tank's study, published on 30 November, calls on councils to take ownership of the end-of-life care agenda. According to a survey carried out for the report, just 40% of local authorities have a lead officer for end-of-life care.