Supporting people with life-shortening conditions and their
families.
Greater training and support for healthcare staff are among
measures set out in a new strategy to improve palliative care
across Scotland.
‘Palliative Care Matters for All', published today by the
Scottish Government, is a five-year strategy produced in
partnership with NHS Scotland, charities, health and social care
professionals, and people with experience of palliative care
services.
Measures include better integrating specialist palliative care
into hospital and community services, improving public
information about living with life-shortening conditions, death,
dying and bereavement support community-led networks to help
people talk openly about these issues, and the launch of a new
Scottish Palliative Care Learning Hub to strengthen training and
education.
Healthcare professionals who are providing palliative care will
be able to contact a new round-the-clock phone line for advice
and support, helping to ensure the best possible care is
provided.
The strategy is supported by a delivery plan for 2025–28. It
highlights the changes needed to ensure everyone in Scotland can
access timely, high-quality and compassionate care.
Launching the strategy at the Cornhill Macmillan Centre in Perth,
Minister for Public Health and Women's Health met with NHS staff, volunteers
and patients to hear first-hand about the vital role of
specialist palliative care services.
Ms Minto said:
“We want everyone in Scotland – regardless of age, diagnosis, or
location – to have access to timely, high quality and
person-centred palliative care.
“This strategy is rooted in the voices of people with experience
of palliative care, alongside the expertise of professionals,
carers, and the third sector. Working in partnership, we hope to
ensure that palliative care is compassionate, person-centred, and
available to all who need it.”
Mark Hazelwood, CEO of the Scottish Partnership for Palliative
Care, said:
“The care and support received by people living with serious
illness or approaching the end of life matters enormously to
everyone at some point. I hope that the new strategy will deliver
a step change in understanding - that palliative care is not a
niche activity but rather a major thread running through the
current challenges and opportunities for Scotland's health and
social care system. There is a lot which can, with the right
support, be improved. We look forward to working closely with
Scottish Government and other partners to maximise the strategy's
positive impact.”
Jacki Smart, Chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group,
said:
“This strategy rightly recognises the vital role of specialist
and community-led palliative care, and we are encouraged to see
commitments to improved training, public understanding, and
better integration across settings. As leaders of Scotland's
hospice sector, we hope this marks a turning point – one that
brings meaningful improvements to access, equity, and long-term
sustainability of palliative and end-of-life care across the
country. We look forward to working with the Scottish Government,
NHS Scotland, and partners to deliver on the ambitions set out in
the strategy.”
Background
The strategy can be viewed here: Palliative Care Matters
for All Palliative care strategy initial delivery plan (2025-28)
- gov.scot
