Hansard

I thank Sue Webber for bringing this important debate to the chamber. I speak in the debate having spent 14 years working as part of the nursing team at the St Margaret of Scotland hospice in Clydebank. I also make my contribution as a member of the cross-party group on palliative care.

As has been said, Scotland has many excellent hospices that provide round-the-clock care. Marie Curie, the largest third sector provider of hospice care services in Scotland, supported almost 8,000 terminally ill folk in 2022-23, and, for more than 30 years, families across Scotland caring for a child with life-limiting conditions have been able to turn to Scotland’s only children’s hospice service, Children’s Hospices Across Scotland—CHAS.

The St Margaret of Scotland hospice, where I used to work, was the first hospice in Scotland when it was founded in 1950. Since that time, it has provided medical support to patients who have complex care needs and has also provided spiritual, psychological and social support for patients. That comprehensive approach ensures that individuals receive the care that is right for them at the time of their greatest need. Every year, it touches the lives of approximately 1,800 people, and it does so with compassion and dedication.

My time in the St Margaret’s hospice team was incredibly rewarding and a real privilege, but it was also immensely challenging. Caring for patients with advanced life-limiting illnesses and complex care needs is not easy; it is an incredibly emotional job that requires resilience and empathy. The care that those who work in a hospice provide extends well beyond the patients themselves. They also get to know and care for the families and friends of the patients and provide a level of support for them during what, for some, is the last few weeks or months that they will have with their family and friends.

My sincere and eternal thanks go to the St Margaret of Scotland hospice team, which is ably led by Sister Rita as chief executive. The members of the team have touched the lives of many, including myself, and they continue to provide the exceptional care that we would all hope for, should we or a relative need it.

I recognise that all our hospices are facing challenges with funding at this time. Charitable donations make up a large part of their funding, and I know that many people are unable to donate because of the cost of living crisis. That is a real challenge for hospices.

I welcome the fact that the Scottish Government is currently developing a new palliative and end-of-life care strategy. The strategy will, I hope, aim to ensure that everyone in Scotland receives well co-ordinated, timely and high-quality palliative care that is based on their needs and preferences, including support for their families and carers. Alongside that, the wider commitment from the Scottish Government to the national care service will ensure a level of high-quality social care across Scotland. The service will oversee the delivery of care, improve standards, enhance pay and conditions for workers and provide better support for unpaid carers. It is important that the relevant legislation works in partnership with providers of palliative and end-of-life care to ensure that the service recognises and responds to the growing need for palliative care across our community.

As has been mentioned, hospice care in Scotland will continue to have evolving needs, and I am glad that the Scottish Government recognises that. Hospices play a crucial role in Scotland’s healthcare system. They do not just provide medical care; they are a source of compassion and support for patients in the final stages of their life, and they offer stability and reassurance for their families and friends. Hospices are underpinned by those core values, and I cannot thank them enough.