Baillie responds to the launch of the Scottish Government’s new palliative care strategy
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Photo by Jamie Simpson/Marie Curie.
MSPs give their support to Marie Curie’s largest fundraising appeal month, the iconic Great Daffodil Appeal, at the Scottish Parliament today (17 Mar).
Supporting the Great Daffodil Appeal, which started in 1986, by donating and wearing a daffodil pin in March helps Marie Curie to continue providing vital palliative and end of life care and support. The leading end of life charity cared for over 9,000 terminally ill people across Scotland in their own homes and at its two Scottish hospices during 2020/21 – its highest number of patients on record since Marie Curie was established in 1948.
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Scottish political support helps Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal flourish
MSPs, lend their support to Marie Curie’s largest fundraising appeal month, the iconic Great Daffodil Appeal, at the Scottish Parliament today (17 Mar).
Following a parliamentary reception last night, MSPs met with staff and volunteers from Marie Curie, to hear about the care and support that is provided to people living with terminal illness, their families and carers across Scotland, especially throughout Covid-19.
The leading end of life charity cared for over 9,000 terminally ill people across Scotland in their own homes and at its two Scottish hospices during 2020/21 – its highest number of patients on record since Marie Curie was established in 1948.
Supporting the Great Daffodil Appeal, which started in 1986, by donating and wearing a daffodil pin in March helps Marie Curie to continue providing vital palliative and end of life care and support.
Ellie Wagstaff, Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Marie Curie, said: “With each daffodil worn, there is a personal story, and by donating and wearing your own daffodil, it allows us to continue being there for terminally ill people, their families and carers right across Scotland when they need support the most.
“As a result of the pandemic, where hospital admissions for non-covid patients were reduced, there has been a 40% increase in deaths at home across the country, and Marie Curie’s Community Nursing Service experienced almost a 15% uplift in demand during 2020-21 as it continued supporting terminally ill people at home.
“There has been a significant physical, emotional and financial impact on patients, their families and carers, and health and social care professionals during Covid-19 which will be long-lasting for years to come.
“We must take key learnings from the pandemic to ensure that palliative and end of life care services, including bereavement support, both now and in the future are fully equipped to meet terminally ill people’s needs, as we know that by 2040, 10,000 more people will be dying with palliative care needs each year, with two thirds of all deaths likely to happen in community settings.”
To find out more about the Great Daffodil Appeal, visit mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil
Ends
Notes to Editors
Marie Curie's annual flagship fundraising appeal, the Great Daffodil Appeal is taking place throughout March. The money raised helps to support the charity's nurses, doctors, and hospice staff so they can continue working giving expert care to people at the end of life, and their families. For more information on how to fundraise or donate, visit: mariecurie.org.uk/daffodil
About Marie Curie Marie Curie is the UK's leading end of life charity. The charity provides essential
nursing and hospice care for people with any terminal illness, a free support line and a wealth of information and support on all aspects of dying, death and bereavement. It is the largest charity funder of palliative and end of life care research in the UK. Marie Curie is committed to sharing its expertise to improve quality of care and ensuring that everyone has a good end of life experience. Marie Curie is calling for recognition and sustainable funding of end of life care and bereavement support.
Natalie Davidson
Senior PR & Communications Officer
Marie Curie
Care and support through terminal illness
E: natalie.davidson@mariecurie.org.uk
M: 07753258625
Media enquiries: media@mariecurie.org.uk (office hours) /0845 073 8699. For urgent out of hours media enquiries please call.
by Democrat reporter
Caring for loved ones and providing specialist palliative care would need to be met by an already stretched NHS, according to Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie.
Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie MSP said: “Hospices play a vital role in our communities. The sector has been sounding the alarm about mounting financial pressures for years, but the SNP’s response has been too little too late.
“Hospices shouldn’t be forced to make an impossible choice between matching NHS pay and protecting services.
“The Scottish Government has no excuse for not helping hospices. The First Minister must use the £5.2 billion in additional money it was given by the UK Government to fix the crisis in our health and social care services – that most definitely includes supporting hospices.”
Following the launch of the Scottish Government’s new palliative care strategy, Helen Malo, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Hospice UK said:
“Hospice UK welcomes Scotland’s new palliative care strategy and its clear aim for people of all ages to receive palliative care and bereavement support based on what matters to them.
“This is an important starting point, and we look forward to working with the Scottish Government to ensure those commitments are delivered in practice.
“However, the future of palliative care requires transformation, not tweaks. Too many people in Scotland are still dying without the support they need, and too many are spending their final weeks in hospital beds, not because they need to be there, but because the system gives them no other choice.
“We need bold action to drive urgent reforms: investing in palliative care to meet rising demand, expanding community-based services, and reducing avoidable hospital admissions.
“The Government must also deliver on its previous promises of long-term, sustainable funding for hospices, including full parity with NHS pay for hospice staff.
“This strategy marks a turning point, but more is needed to make sure everyone in Scotland can access the best possible care at the end of life.”
Meanwhile, fixing social care crisis must be key lesson learned from Covid mistakes, says UNISON, the local government workers’ trade union.
“The Conservative government’s Covid legacy will be how not to respond to a national crisis,“ responded UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea
“Boris Johnson and Matt Hancock should hang their heads in shame for deserting health and care patients and staff during their hour of need.
“Ministers failed to keep thousands of vulnerable people and workers safe. Boasts of a protective ring around care homes were a complete fiction.
“Matt Hancock’s inability to provide enough safety kit, testing and sick pay for care workers had devastating consequences.
“There are important lessons to be learned. Among them, fixing social care must be a top government priority.
“A nationally integrated, fully funded system could have saved lives. And the UK might have avoided one of the worst death rates in Europe.”
