Support for pay parity with NHS staff.
The Scottish Government is to distribute £5 million of funding in
2025-26 to support independent hospices with pay parity for
clinical staff with their NHS counterparts.
Hospices have now had their funding allocations confirmed and the
investment, set out in the 2025-26 Budget, will ensure that
frontline staff providing essential palliative and end-of-life
care in independent hospices are fairly paid in line with NHS pay
scales.
The funding aims to help hospices recruit and retain skilled
healthcare professionals during a time of rising workforce
pressures and increasing demand for palliative care services.
Health Secretary , said:
“Independent hospices provide vital care and support to people
and families across Scotland at the most difficult times in their
lives. I am pleased we are able to support these organisations in
supporting pay parity for their clinical staff.
“This funding recognises the skilled, compassionate care that
hospice staff deliver every day, and helps ensure their pay
reflects the immense value of their work."
Chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group Jacki Smart, said:
“This is a welcome first step in recognising the needs of the
hospice sector, which plays a key role in delivering specialist
palliative care for Scotland. It is right for patients and staff
that hospices can pay skilled professionals fairly and in line
with NHS colleagues, and we need to keep pace on this.”
Background
Independent hospices across Scotland are independent charitable
organisations providing care tailored to local needs. Integration
Joint Boards (IJBs) are responsible for the planning and
commissioning of independent hospices to meet the needs of their
local population. Hospices work closely with a wide variety of
health and social care services, including NHS Boards, to deliver
high quality care and support.
The Scottish Government is committed to developing a new national
framework to support more effective planning and commissioning
between hospices and IJBs. This work will continue alongside
discussions about long-term pay parity and funding arrangements.
