NHS support is failing hundreds of thousands of people in the UK each year dying from chronic diseases, MPs warned today.

As many as 300,000 people each year are dying from diseases such as cancer without access to proper palliative care, says the Commons health committee

A report published by the committee today reveals wide regional disparities in the treatment of chronic diseases, with many patients being denied the right to die at home rather than in hospital.

The committee's chairman, David Hinchliffe, said: "The right to a good death should be fundamental. Care and respect of those with terminal illnesses is a key indicator of society's values.

"We hear much of the choice agenda in the NHS at present. But for those who are terminally ill, choices are not being realised. Around 55% of people die in hospital but many of these individuals would prefer to die at home - in fact fewer than half of those wishing to die at home do so."

The report cited evidence from Marie Curie highlighting "extraordinary inequities" in service provision.

Marie Curie official Tom Hughes-Hallett said the charity had been asked to provide 20,500 nursing hours in North Yorkshire, which has a population of 886,000. But in West Yorkshire, which has a population of 2.3 million, it was asked to provide only 11,000 nursing hours.

Mr Hinchcliffe said: "Some affluent areas have plenty of hospices, for example, while others have few. Those with complex needs, or from black and minority ethnic communities, seem less able to access services.

"We hope that the best practice that exists patchily will be rolled out nationally and that the representation of the national partnership group for palliative care will be widened."

The report made a series of recommendations to the Department of Health on how to improve palliative services. It called for the introduction of a period of statutory paid leave for carers, which would allow much more care to be provided at home by friends and relatives.

The Liberal Democrats' health spokesman and committee member Paul Berstow said: "Much more must be done to develop palliative care to make it available to more people who need it. It is a scandal that as many as 300,000 people a year die from chronic diseases without good palliative support."

· Many Europeans die in unnecessary pain and discomfort because health systems lack the skills and services to provide care towards the end of life.

Two World Health Organisation reports published today cited strong evidence suggesting that palliative care can make a dramatic difference to the quality of life of the dying and those that care for them.

However, the reports found most European health systems offer little training for health professionals, few care options for patients and small research budgets to support palliative care.

Studies in Europe and United States show that while 75% of people would like to die at home, only 18 to 32% actually have that opportunity.