Sue Ryder call for improved support for end of life care in Scotland
Significant effort needs to be made to improve out-of-hours support for people who are dying and their families in Scotland.
A Freedom of Information request made by Sue Ryder revealed that only one of Scotland’s 14 health boards provides a comprehensive out-of-hours service for people who are dying.
With official NHS figures showing that there has been little improvement in increasing the time spent at home rather than in hospital in the final six months of life, the organisation has stressed that providing comprehensive, co-ordinated palliative care and support would make a huge difference to people being able to choose where they spend their final months and days.
Pamela Mackenzie, Director of Sue Ryder in Scotland, said: “Of Scotland’s 14 health boards, only one provides a meaningful and comprehensive out-of-hours service, providing support, information and advice to people who are dying and their families.”
“We all know that dying isn’t restricted to the hours of 9-5 and, indeed, some of the darkest times for people facing the end of life and their families are overnight.”
Elsewhere Sue Ryder have helped to reduce unwanted hospital admissions, thanks to their 24/7 telephone service Gold Line, in Yorkshire, and Partnership for Excellence in Palliative Support (PEPS) service in Bedfordshire. And the charity’s online community provides round the clock support.
Pamela said: “Now that our new Health and Social Care Partnerships have taken over responsibility for the provision of palliative care we would urge them to look at models such as our online community for people who are dying and their families, and our Gold Line service in Yorkshire, which has directly reduced the number of hospital admissions for people who are approaching the end of life – keeping them in the comfort of their own homes.”
“I hope that our findings today act as an important reminder that support, advice and the co-ordination of services are just as important overnight and at weekends as they are during traditional working hours. I hope to see an improvement in the provision of comprehensive out-of-hours services and support for people who are approaching the end of their lives in years to come.”
