Hansard

It does not seem that long since I hosted the round-table session on the dying in the margins study by Marie Curie and the University of Glasgow. That was back in November, and there was a members’ business debate on that study in the chamber. A few weeks after that, I led a members’ business debate entitled “Charitable Hospice Care to Meet Future Need”.

I see many familiar faces in the chamber. I thank Bob Doris for bringing the subject of hospices back to the chamber at what is perhaps a more poignant time of the year, when it means more to most, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on the subject again.

Marie Curie has done excellent work over the past 75 years, and it continues to provide vital services to those who need palliative and end-of-life care. It supports millions of people who are affected by terminal illness and those who are dealing with dying, death and—importantly—bereavement across the UK.

Marie Curie is the largest charitable funder of palliative care research in the UK and the largest third sector provider of palliative and end-of-life services for adults in Scotland. As Bob Doris has said, there are two Marie Curie hospices in Scotland—in Edinburgh and Glasgow. In 2022-23, Marie Curie supported more than 8,100 people in Scotland; in the same year, around 8,815 people died in the Lothian region, 90 per cent of whom had a palliative care need. Hospices are critical in meeting that need. Indeed, across the region, Marie Curie hospice care-at-home teams made 4,060 visits to 672 terminally ill people.

In November, I visited the Marie Curie hospice in Fairmilehead. When I entered it, I was immediately enveloped by a calmness and serenity that gave me a sense of wellbeing and care. I was given a tour of the facilities and had the chance to speak to members of staff. Early Marie Curie homes were housed in converted buildings that were not ideal for the type of care that they delivered; the hospice at Fairmilehead, which was opened in 1966, was the second purpose-built building that was designed and built by Marie Curie in the UK. It was designed to care for those who were seriously ill with advanced conditions. In the past year, the Marie Curie hospice service in Edinburgh and West Lothian has supported a total of 1,690 patients with in-patient, out-patient and, importantly, community and day therapy services.

I think that many people have preconceived ideas about hospice care. Most of Marie Curie’s work is done in the community, with the majority of hospice care being delivered beyond hospice buildings and walls and out in people’s homes. That gives people the option to die with their friends and family, at home and supported by teams of experts. Marie Curie has a fast-track team that helps people with tasks such as washing, caring and showering as they get close to the end of life. Crucially, it keeps them out of a hospital setting; the team is essential to keeping people in the right place and offers family support to relatives.

It was disappointing that this week’s budget made no mention of the support needed by hospices to address the £16 million deficit that the sector faces. The rapidly growing need for palliative care in Scotland means that the vital contribution made by hospices will become increasingly important, and I hope that the issue will be considered in future.

In closing, I echo what Bob Doris said about Marie Curie’s inspirational work across the country, about how supportive it is to families and those at the end of life and about how innovative it continues to be. I thank Marie Curie for 75 years of care and wish the charity well in the future.