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New direction for palliative care
02/10/2008
Patients who depend on palliative care services in Scotland are to be given more choice and control over their care and how that care is delivered at critical times.
Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon today announced annual funding of £3 million to support palliative and end of life care as she launched Living and Dying Well, a national action plan which sets out a new direction for palliative care in Scotland.
This will ensure all patients' needs are assessed, enabling them to access the 24-hour community nursing and home care services which would allow them to be cared for at home if they wish.
By providing palliative and end of life care in the community - recognising the key role of GPs and the wider community team to plan, co-ordinate and deliver patient care - the action plan will help to ensure patients and their families get the support they need.
Building on the essential care already provided by hospices, the action plan will expand provision and choice for every patient.
Key points of the action plan include:
- All patients and carers will be identified by their GPs and care plans developed within 2 weeks to ensure their physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs are assessed and reviewed
- 24 hour community nursing and home care services, allowing patients to be cared for at home at end of life if they wish
- Electronic palliative care summaries for patient medical records - ensuring the right information is given to any healthcare provider, including out of hours services, who may need it at critical times
- A national education plan focusing on education, training and development. This will ensure all health and social care staff have the knowledge, skills, competence and confidence to support the delivery of improved palliative and end of life care in all settings
- A National Advisory Group will be established and overseen by a National Clinical Lead for Palliative Care. This will support the implementation of the national plan and allow best practice evaluation of the new measures
- The appointment of executive leads for palliative and end of life care in every NHS Board across Scotland, responsible for ensuring effective implementation of the new actions. Every NHS Board in Scotland will also be tasked with developing a delivery plan by March 2009, ensuring that the aims and action points of Living and Dying Well, are delivered locally
- An additional 500,000 pounds funding will be made available immediately to kick start immediate actions, including support to NHS Boards on developing their local delivery plans
Speaking at the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care conference in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said:
"This is an important day for palliative care in Scotland. For the first time there will be a single, comprehensive approach for the provision of palliative and end of life care across Scotland.
"People with any advanced, progressive or incurable illness should receive the best palliative care available, regardless of their diagnosis or where they live. Our goal is excellent quality, integrated care - planned and delivered in ways which take full account of the needs and wishes of patients, families and carers.
"While maintaining a focus on the needs of people dying from cancer, I believe that it is essential that we strengthen palliative care services across Scotland. We must take a broader and more inclusive approach to other areas such as long-term conditions, frailty and dementia.
"I am also pleased to announce £3 million every year to support care provided through community based teams.
"That is why initiatives set out in our new action plan will open up patient's choices of palliative and end of life care services and ensure that this meets the practical realities of the person's daily life."
Chair of the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care and Chief Executive of Highland Hospice, Maria McGill said:
"We greatly welcome the Scottish Government's ongoing commitment to the improvement of palliative care services in Scotland. The report has been produced in close consultation with stakeholders and recognises the importance of end of life care by ensuring it becomes an integral part of the Scotland's core health strategy.
"We welcome the emphasis on consistency of care in rural areas and improvements in the provision of palliative care for patients with diagnoses other than cancer."
Chief Executive of the St Andrew's Hospice, Tom Gault said:
"St Andrew's Hospice very warmly welcomes the introduction of the Scottish Government's action plan on palliative care. This is an exciting time for palliative care in Scotland and we look forward to working with our colleagues in NHS Lanarkshire in implementing the action plan with the aim of extending and improving the provision of specialist palliative care services for the people of Lanarkshire."
Medical Director for Marie Curie Cancer Care Hospice in Edinburgh, Dr David Oxenham said:
"We welcome the 'Living and Dying Well' plan, with the commitment of 3 million pounds of additional funding, and hope it can be a platform for providing greater access to palliative care services for everyone across Scotland.
"We particularly welcome the commitment to providing access for patients to 24-hour community nursing and home care services, which would allow them to be cared for at home if they wish.
"Marie Curie Cancer Care is committed to working with the Scottish Government, with the National Clinical Lead for Palliative Care, NHS Boards and other organisations in implementing this plan."