Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, spoke in the Dying in Poverty in Scotland debate in Parliament yesterday (05.12.2024).
The debate was secured by her colleague, Paul Sweeney MSP, with Marie Curie’s Dying in Poverty in Scotland 2024 report shining a light on the very difficult financial situation many people find themselves in at the end of life.
Rhoda Grant said “People facing terminal illness often lose their income and move onto benefits, that can be difficult to do when facing end of life.
“There are many excellent support services out there that do help people, Marie Curie themselves, Macmillan and Western Isles Cancer Care Initiative (WICCI), to name but a few.
“WICCI advocates for all people with cancer in the Western Isles, but this is more important for those with a terminal diagnosis. Helping them access support and providing small grants.”
Mrs Grant continued “Hospices however are crying out for funding and hospice at home is desperately needed.
“The End of Life Care Together partnership spearheaded by Highland Hospice is however leading change in this with the formation of their groundbreaking 24/7 helpline for people with palliative and end-of-life care needs which has benefitted 415 patients in 6 months and has saved NHS Highland £2.3m in that period.”
The Partnership’s Palliative Care Response Service provides rapid access to care at home, utilising the social care tariff. This results in an average of 20 fewer hospital bed days per client, delivers net savings of £18,600 for every individual supported and provides the care people want.
In Highland £45m is spent yearly on end-of-life care in hospital. While only just over £11m is spent on end of life care elsewhere. Hospital care for terminal patients accounts for much of the delayed discharge issue currently being experienced.
Mrs Grant concluded “Trying to make sure that their last precious days are comfortable and free from worry is something we all strive to do for a loved one. If financial constraints are stopping families from ensuring a good death, then that adds to their distress and how they deal with grief going forward.
“We need statutory services on board and working on this model. It saves money, but most importantly it allows families to enrich the final days of a loved one. Living their lives to the end.
“When days are few, life is very precious.”
A video of Rhoda’s speech can be accessed from https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1595648674415870