Palliative and end of life care is predominantly provided by the charitable sector in a hospice or hospice at home setting with no legal right to palliative care currently existing. Under current contracts, GPs are obliged to support patients with generalist palliative care, however, with GP resources completely overstretched this means a large proportion of people die without some or all the palliative support they need, despite the fact 90% of people who die in Scotland each year would benefit from it.
A legal right to palliative care would work towards eliminating this unmet need by creating equitable access to the palliative support, which is right for them, when they need it.
A proposal for a Members Bill for a right to palliative care, being led by Miles Briggs MSP, with cross-party support from Bob Doris MSP and Rhoda Grant MSP has been launched – and a public consultation is open until June 4, 2024. With a petition present on their website to document views and gauge support, Marie Curie is asking individuals to make their voices heard and become one of the many documenting their desire for this bill to be passed.
For more information, and to have your say, please visit the Scottish Parliament and Marie Curie websites, where you can also sign Marie Curie’s petition.
