Latest news from SPPC
SPPC publishes 3-year strategy
The Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care has published its strategy for 2014-2017. Over the next three years, our work will aim to address the six strategic priorities.
1. Provide strategic leadership in improving the experience of death, dying and bereavement in Scotland.
2. Identify, and support the spread of, good practice and innovation.
3. Promote public and professional awareness, understanding and knowledge of ways to improve death, dying and bereavement, and will promote public dialogue around these issues.
4. Encourage effective planning for better death, dying and bereavement by the public, and by professionals together with patients and families, at all stages of life.
5. Ensure that the experiences of the public, patients and families inform the development and implementation of policy and practice.
6. Undertake any necessary organisational change/development necessary to deliver its strategic objectives.
The full strategy can be accessed here: SPPC Strategy 2014 - 2017.
Experts Ask Are We Living and Dying Well Yet?
The challenges and achievements of the Scottish Government’s palliative and end of life care strategy Living and Dying Well was debated by palliative care professionals and MSPs on 5 February at a discussion organised by the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care and Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Five years on from the launch of the national action plan, discussions focussed on the successes of Living and Dying Well as well as recognising the need for a new framework for action. A good death for everyone was highlighted as an important focus. Panel members agreed that open and honest conversations at the end of life need to happen sooner in order to ensure that patients get their wishes and needs fulfilled.
Over 80 guests heard from ten panellists:
- Kenny Steele, Chair of Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care (Chair of the event)
- Aileen McLeod MSP (Host of the event)
- Rhoda Grant MSP
- Jim Hume MSP
- Nanette Milne MSP
- Professor David Clark, University of Glasgow
- Maria McGill, Chief Executive, Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS)
- Dr Juliet Spiller, Consultant in Palliative Care Medicine, Marie Curie
- Professor Craig White, Divisional Clinical Lead, Scottish Government
- Professor Elizabeth Ireland, GP
Richard Meade, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Marie Curie Cancer Care said: “The event was about the sector coming together to agree how Scotland can continue to lead in palliative and end of life care. However, it is clear that we need to do more to engage everyone in this debate. It’s time for a national conversation on death and dying.”
Kenny Steele, Chair of the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care said: “The panellists and audience agreed that all parts of society need to be engaged in how we meet the challenges of end of life care. A clear framework for action is required to provide focus for this, to ensure that we deliver good end of life care for everyone in Scotland.”
An international exercise in compassion
Dr Derek Doyle OBE, Honorary President of the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care, shares some of his reflections, on the SPPC blog.
Briefing on Assisted Suicide Bill published
The Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care has published a briefing providing a short overview of the Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill introduced to parliament on 13th November 2013. Also available is a briefing summarising the legislative process relating to this Bill.
Scottish Government update on LCP (and SPPC statement)
The Scottish Government has published an update on the Liverpool Care Pathway. The update can be accessed here: Update - Liverpool Care Pathway for the Dying Patient
RSS