Supporting staff delivering palliative care
Independent hospices will now receive an additional £2.9m of
funding in financial year 2026-2027. In total independent
hospices will therefore receive £9.4 million to support their
vital work caring for people and families at the most difficult
time in their lives.
The funding, confirmed in the Scottish Government's 2026-27
budget, will help ensure staff providing
palliative care are paid in line with their NHS
counterparts, enabling hospices to recruit and retain skilled
healthcare professionals as demand for services increases.
This supports the Scottish Government's ambition for everyone -
regardless of age, diagnosis or location - to have access to high
quality and person-centred palliative care.
Minister for Public Health and Women's Health said:
“I am pleased to support the crucial work carried out by hospice
staff, providing high quality, compassionate
palliative care.
“Hospice staff do something truly remarkable, supporting patients
and families during the most difficult moments of their lives and
offering not just care, but comfort, dignity and kindness. That
kind of dedication is immeasurable, and it's only right that
their pay reflects just how much they are valued.
"We understand the pressures hospices are facing and will
continue to engage closely with the Scottish
Hospices Leadership Group to see what more can be done to
support palliative care services, including independent hospices
in Scotland.”
Jacki Smart, CEO of ACCORD Hospice and Chair of the Scottish
Hospices Leadership Group, said:
“Scotland's hospices warmly welcome this £9.4 million investment.
It's a significant and much needed step toward fair pay for
hospice staff, and it reflects a growing recognition of the
essential role hospices play in delivering specialist palliative
and end of life care and the complexity and compassion their
roles demand.
“This commitment values the skilled and compassionate
professionals who support patients and families every single day,
and it helps strengthen the foundations of a sustainable
workforce at a time of rising demand and financial pressure.”
Background
Independent hospices across Scotland are charitable organisations
providing care tailored to local needs, and remain responsible
for the pay, terms and conditions of their staff. 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.
