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Action plan for end-of-life care ‘due in spring’

Action plan for end-of-life care ‘due in spring’

An action plan to improve the lives of those suffering from terminal illnesses such as dementia will be published in the spring, the First Minister has revealed.

Nicola Sturgeon was responding to a question from North East Fife MSP Rod Campbell about dementia care in Scotland when he confirmed work was at an advanced stage on the proposals.

She said: “We are developing a palliative and end-of-life care strategic framework for action, which is intended to further improve the delivery of palliative and end-of-life care for all, across all health and care settings.

“It will be published in the spring. The right to end-of-life care in the dementia standards, which were published in 2011, includes the right to good-quality, dignified and compassionate palliative and end-of-life care in all settings.

“Wherever possible, people have the right to die in a place of their own choosing and in a way that respects previously expressed wishes, and it is important that we ensure that that right is afforded to those with dementia, as we seek to do for others.”

Mr Campbell had asked how the Scottish Government is addressing issues raised in a Marie Curie Cancer Care report, which found that end-of-life care for dementia sufferers “is far from universal”.

Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Dr Richard Simpson asked for reassurances that hospital patients with dementia do not suffer from neglect.

Ms Sturgeon replied: “We have a duty to ensure that our hospital settings do not make those people’s conditions or circumstances worse, but are responsive to their particular needs.”