Meeting of the Parliament 21 December 2023
I totally agree with that, and I will come to that point in two seconds.
I welcome the announcement in the report that Marie Curie will commission research to help answer the questions of population need for different types of services, alongside improved data on service access outcomes and patient and carer experiences.
It is important that we better understand what support people require as they reach the last few months of life. Therefore, I welcome the Scottish Government’s creation of a strategy steering group to oversee the development and delivery of a new palliative and end-of-life care strategy. The aim is to ensure that everyone in Scotland receives
“well-coordinated, timely and high-quality palliative care, care around death and bereavement support based on their needs and preferences including support for families and carers.”
The strategy will also aim to understand and respond to issues of financial insecurity, housing and employment, and it will provide information in accessible formats for everyone who requires end-of-life care, and their families.
I thank the dedicated staff at Fairmilehead Marie Curie hospice, who will be working over Christmas and new year, for all that they do to support those people who are reaching the end of their lives.
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