Praise for hospice funding
Alex Neil has welcomed news that Scotland’s hospices are set to share up to £19 million in additional money being made available in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
The figure was revealed when the Shotts MSP asked health secretary Jeane Freeman during questions at the Scottish Parliament for an update on the new UK-wide funding announced earlier this month.
He has asked that the sum be distributed “urgently” and that it should go directly to hospices – including St Andrew’s in Airdrie – to ensure it can be put to use in supporting their work at the earliest opportunity.
Mr Neil asked his Holyrood colleague how much money would be made available to Scotland’s hospices from the UK fund and highlighted “the financial challenges facing hospices in Scotland, including St Andrew’s in my constituency”.
He asked: “Once the cabinet secretary has agreed the distribution formula, will she consider sending the funding direct from the Scottish Government to the hospices, rather than through third parties such as integrated joint boards, which would slow it down and possibly put it at risk of top slicing?”
The health secretary replied that, while confirmation is still awaited, “our expectation is that there will be £19m for hospice work” and said: “All the consequential funding, whatever the final level, will be passed directly to the hospices, [and] we are discussing how that will be apportioned.”
Mr Neil said: “This is welcome news for end-of-life care providers in Scotland, including St Andrew’s Hospice in Airdrie – which is an example of a first-class essential service that cannot be allowed to run short of money at this crucial time.
“I have asked the Scottish Government for the money to be distributed urgently and for it to be sent to the hospices and not via the integrated joint boards.
“Our hospices offer invaluable care and comfort for people at the end of their lives – therefore, it’s right that the government gives them the support and stability they need to keep delivering these vital services during this coronavirus crisis.”
The Westminster government earlier this month announced quarterly funding of £200m to enable hospices to care for patients who would otherwise be in NHS hospitals.
St Andrew’s is accepting all acute hospice in-patient admissions from across all of Lanarkshire during the coronavirus emergency to help create additional healthcare capacity across the county.
The system has been in place for the past month, allowing South Lanarkshire counterpart Kilbryde Hospice, located beside Hairmyres Hospital, to provide palliative care for Covid-19 patients by converting and extending its in-patient area to create additional acute care beds.
Craig Cunningham of South Lanarkshire health and social care partnership said of the arrangement: “NHS Lanarkshire is very grateful to our colleagues in St Andrew’s and Kilbryde Hospices and the work they have undertaken to ensure additional beds are made available across Lanarkshire.
“The health board and health and social care partnerships acknowledge all the support provided by the hospices as we all work together to address the threat of coronavirus in our communities.”
Hospice UK chief executive Tracey Bleakley said the “unprecedented” nationwide funding of £200m per quarter “recognises the vital role that hospices play in supporting the NHS in its fight against Covid-19”.
She said: “It means hospices across the country can keep providing beds, specialist clinical care and staffing to relieve pressure on the NHS at this critical moment.
“We’re working with the NHS to disburse this much-needed funding as soon as possible so we can continue to protect the most vulnerable people in our country during this national emergency.
“Hospices are on the front line of providing care and support to almost a quarter of a million vulnerable people every year at the end of their lives, and depend on the generosity of their local communities to care for people and families affected by terminal illness.
“This government support is very welcome, but it’s still important that people continue to support their local hospice.”