Latest news from SPPC
Results of the Help the Hospices/NCPC funding survey
In December 2010 Help the Hospices and the National Council for Palliative Care released findings from a survey of palliative care providers in England and Wales on funding. The report highlights that 30% of hospices have experienced a cut in their statutory funding in 2010–2011 compared to the previous year. Also, a third of respondents were aware of cuts in the number of care staff working in palliative and end of life care services. A third of respondents expect that their funding for 2010–2012 will also be reduced.
More information is available at: http://www.helpthehospices.org.uk/enewsletter/documents/summary_of_ncpc_hth_funding_survey_2010.pdf
Scottish Parliament - Bills
End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill
The Scottish Parliament voted on this Bill on 1 December 2010, the majority disagreed to the general principles of the Bill, and the Bill therefore fell. (Votes For: 16 ; Votes Against: 85 ; Abstentions:2 ) This is the end of the parliamentary process for this Bill, and no such similar Bill can be introduced before the end of the Parliament in May next year. More information about the Bill is available on the Scottish Parliament website:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/38-EndLifeAssist/index.htm
Palliative Care (Scotland) Bill
This Members Bill was withdrawn by Gil Paterson MSP on 2 December 2010. More information about the Bill is available on the Scottish Parliament website:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/bills/50-PalliativeCare/index.htm
Dementia Forum
The Partnership has been invited onto the Dementia Forum chaired by the Minister for Public Health
Annual Review 2010
Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care
Annual Review
The Annual Review, for the year ended 31 March 2010, is now available and can be obtained from the office of the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care or downloaded via the link below.
Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care - Annual Review for the year ended 31 March 10
Cross Party Group on Palliative Care
Audio Recording of Debate on Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
The Cross Party Group on Palliative Care met at the Scottish Parliament on March 23rd 2010. The meeting featured a debate on assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia, with reference to the End of Life Assistance (Scotland) Bill.
The meeting was chaired by Michael McMahon MSP. Mr John Paley, Senior Lecturer at the University of Stirling, spoke first in support of physician assisted suicide. Dr Stephen Hutchison, Consultant Physician in Palliative Medicine at the Highland Hospice, spoke against physician assisted suicide and voluntary euthanasia. An extended question and discussion session followed.
You can find out more information and download MP3 files of presentations and Q&A session in our cross-party group section.