Hansard

I thank Sue Webber for bringing this important debate to the chamber.

I want to speak today because Ardgowan hospice is based in my constituency, and I am sure that almost every family in Inverclyde has had some connection with the hospice, through either a relative or a friend, over the years. The local hospice is loved and respected by the community, and it is a facility for everyone, no matter what their financial situation.

However, the past few years have brought many challenges not only to Ardgowan hospice but to every hospice across the country. The pandemic affected their ability to fundraise, and the past year has been extra challenging, given the exorbitant energy increases and the impact that the NHS pay awards have had on their finances.

I regularly highlight both the positives and the challenges that my Greenock and Inverclyde constituency faces. Inverclyde has been facing economic and social challenges for many years, which has meant that we have lost many of the larger businesses, and our population has shrunk to just over 77,000 people. As a result, the pool of organisations and people from whom hospitals can seek donations has decreased.

Ardgowan hospice therefore gets creative by organising a range of fundraising events every year. That includes the 12 days of kiltmas, which the hospice chief executive and I are currently doing. We are wearing a kilt for 12 days straight, starting on St Andrew’s day, last week. Today is day 7, and there is a JustGiving page if anyone is interested.

The organisation also organises the ever-popular Ardgowan hospice ball, as well as fire walks, sky dives and Christmas appeals. A local actor, Martin Compston, who is one of the hospice’s ambassadors, currently features in its campaign for funds to upgrade one of the rooms for family members to stay in overnight. As members can see, its fundraising team is busy all year round, and those activities help the hospice to engage with the wider community.

Although that is positive, it is clear that the funding model for hospices needs to change. With each hospice across Scotland receiving a different percentage of public funds to help it to deliver services, there is no parity in the sector. Consequently, Scottish hospices have come together to work collectively on the issue, which I whole-heartedly welcome.

I know that the financial situation that the Government faces is tough. Just this afternoon, we debated the fiscal framework, with a wide variety of political points being raised by all sides in the chamber. This debate does not need to follow in that vein. However, the hospices letter that was sent to the minister, dated 20 November, clearly highlighted the situation that Scotland faces and set out hospices’ asks. For me, one of the most important asks is about the future, and I believe that we need to have a wider discussion in order to find a solution to the longer-term funding situation for all our hospices. I hope that that will provide a more stable operating position for hospices, so that they can focus on what they need to do.

However, the first point that needs to be addressed concerns the here and now. I do not profess to have all the answers, but I suggest that consideration be given to looking at the overall health budget to see whether there is any underspend that could be used. I say to the minister that I know that such decisions are tough and that the recent letter that was sent by the Deputy First Minister to the Finance and Public Administration Committee outlined the desperate financial situation that Scotland faces this year and in future years. As the Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance said in his closing comments in the previous debate, it is estimated that that situation will last for up to 10 years, and potentially more. Therefore, attempting to find any resource to help will be challenging, to say the least, but I urge the minister to look again at the budget.

With the increasing age of Scotland’s population, the demand for hospice services will only grow. Not every person will want to go to a hospice at the end of their life, but the need for high-quality palliative care will only increase, including in the community. Other excellent organisations and agencies deliver that, too, but we have to face the fact that demand for hospice care will only increase in future years. That is why a fairer funding model to ensure the stability of our vital hospice sector is needed.