Scottish government publishes five-year strategy ‘Palliative Care Matters for All’, with measures including greater training and support for healthcare staff
The Scottish government has set out a range of ways in which it will support people with life-shortening conditions and their families, by improving the provision of palliative care.
Photo by Judy Beth Morris / Unsplash
The five-year strategy was produced in partnership with NHS Scotland as well as charities, health and social care professionals, and those with experience of palliative care services.
Among the measures listed in the strategy are better integration of specialist palliative care into hospital and community services. Other measures include improved information for the public about living with life-shortening conditions, death, dying and bereavement, and support for community-led networks to help people talk openly about such issues.
A new Scottish Palliative Care Learning Hub will also be launched to strengthen training and education, while healthcare professionals who provide palliative care will have access to help and support from a new 24/7 phoneline.
The launch of the strategy is accompanied by an initial delivery plan for the next three years, 2025-28, which outlines the changes that must be made to achieve the goal of ensuring that everyone in Scotland can access timely, high-quality and compassionate care.
Jennie Minto MSP, Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, says: ‘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, adds: ‘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, says: ‘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.’
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