Charity To Promote Scottish 'End Of Life Care'

New Scottish charity puts end of life care in hospitals on national agenda.

PATCH, Palliation And The Caring Hospital, launches to promote end of life care in Scottish hospitals.

Recent research suggests that 55% of Scots dies in hospital, many without specialist care. 

PATCH aims to support and identify ways to deliver 24/7 specialist end of life care specifically for hospital patients and is committed to raising the profile of end of life care in hospitals and is working with government, hospices, other charities and professional bodies to do so.

The charity was inspired by the model of care in the Acute Palliative Care Unit in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, which was started in 2009 and is now NHS funded.

Hospitals in Scotland with dedicated acute palliative care beds include Dumfries Royal Infirmary, Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline, and the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley. 

Last week, a report by the Economist Intelligence Unit ranked end-of-life care in the UK as the best in the world, particularly due to hospice care and free NHS services. However, providing access to specialist end of life care is not currently a requirement for hospitals in Scotland. 

Sir Michael Nairn Bt, chairman of PATCH, said: “Only a minority of hospital patients in Scotland who could benefit from specialist care at the end of their lives actually receive it. PATCH is working hard to support the NHS and other healthcare organisations to identify hospital requirements and support to deliver them. PATCH believes Scottish hospitals should be as proud of end of life care for patients and families as they are of the care provided for families and babies at the beginning of life.”

Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “The Scottish Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that palliative and end of life care is delivered to the highest standards, in every situation, right across the country. I look forward to working with PATCH as we work to deliver this.

“We are currently developing a new framework for palliative care, supported with £3.5 million of funding over the next four years. This new framework will be published in the near future.”