St Columba’s Hospice Care was proud to host a recent visit from Health Secretary Neil Gray, to mark a significant funding boost for the Scottish Ambulance Service’s (SAS) Palliative and End of Life Care programme.

We are delighted to have played a part in supporting this important initiative, which is already making a meaningful difference to the people we care for. The programme is designed to improve patient experiences, enhance dignity and comfort, and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions for those nearing the end of life.

The Scottish Government has confirmed £417,000 in new funding to extend this successful programme through 2025. The investment will allow the SAS Palliative and End of Life Care team to continue delivering compassionate, person-centred care across Scotland, while also easing pressure on emergency services.

The team has established over 30 alternative care pathways that avoid the need for hospital visits, including direct referrals to hospices like ours and access to cancer support helplines. These pathways enable patients to receive care at home or in other appropriate settings, ensuring they get the right support at the right time.

In 2023-24, the programme achieved the following:

• 1,600 fewer patients were conveyed to hospital

• 1,451 fewer ambulance attendances compared to the previous year

• 4,000 ambulance staff received training in palliative care support

Health Secretary, Neil Gray, said:

“The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that everyone who needs it can access high-quality, timely, and well-coordinated palliative care. The work of the Palliative and End of Life Care Team is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through partnership working, and I am pleased that we are able to provide this funding to extend their vital work.”

Michael Dickson OBE, Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, said:

“We welcome this funding, which will help us build on the success of previous work and further develop our specialist capability to support patients with palliative and end-of-life needs across Scotland.
The funding will expand training, deepen our partnership with health and social care providers, and further improve patient experience, dignity, and choice at the end of life.”

At St Columba’s Hospice, we remain committed to working collaboratively with partners like the Scottish Ambulance Service to ensure that everyone receives the care they need, when and where they need it most.