Views are being sought by the Scottish government on a new
strategy Palliative Care Matters for All.
Palliative care is holistic care that prevents and relieves
suffering through the early identification, assessment and
management of pain and other problems – whether physical, mental,
social or spiritual.
An ageing population that is living longer, with more complex
needs, means more people will need access to palliative care in
the future. The draft strategy has been developed in
collaboration with the palliative care community and people who
have experience of palliative care.
The aim is to deliver the best possible standards of palliative
care for adults and children, families, and carers wherever and
whenever it is needed.
Public Health Minister said:
“Talking more openly about palliative care is the first step to
understanding how and when it can benefit us – often at a much
earlier stage and for longer than most people realise.
“We want to make sure that everyone who needs it can access
well-coordinated, timely and high-quality palliative care along
with care around dying and bereavement support.
“This consultation is important as many of us at some point in
our lives will need to have conversations with people close to us
about serious illness, death and loss. We're asking the
public to share their views with us to help shape our new
strategy, because palliative care matters to us all.”
Scottish Government Palliative Care Clinical Lead and Chair of
the Palliative Care Strategic Steering Group Dr Kirsty Boyd said:
“I have seen first hand how timely, high quality palliative care
can really make a difference to people and their families in
supporting them to live their life to the full.
“Palliative care focuses on what matters to each adult or child
and how we help them live as well as possible for however long
that is. What counts when someone is dying is that they are well
cared for, comfortable and with the people closest to them
wherever they are.”
Palliative Care Strategy:
Palliative Care Matters for All - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Palliative Care Matters for All:
strategy consultation - Scottish Government consultations -
Citizen Space
