Latest news from SPPC
Long term conditions action plan published: June 2009
The Scottish Government has published Improving the Health & Wellbeing of People with Long Term Conditions in Scotland: A National Action Plan. This has been published as CEL 23 (2009), and has at its centre the seven high impact changes developed through the Long Term Conditions Collaborative.
The action plan is available at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications
Annual Report 2009
Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care
Annual Report
The Annual Report, for the year ended 31 March 2009, 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 Report for the year ended 31 March 2009
Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care annual conference: Palliative care: How can we make a difference?
This conference will be held at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh on Wednesday 30 September 2009. Among the speakers will be Dr Kevin Woods, Director General Health and Chief Executive NHS Scotland who will address the question: What difference can Living and Dying Well make to palliative care services in Scotland?
BMA consultation: General Practice in Scotland: The Way Ahead
The BMA in Scotland is hoping for a widespread response to this consultation which runs until 12 June 2009. Full details are available on the BMA website: http://www.bma.org.uk/healthcare_policy/thewayahead.jsp
BMA reaffirms opposition to assisted suicide: July 2009
Source: BMA Scotland press release, 1 July 09
Doctors have reaffirmed their opposition to assisted suicide following a debate at the BMA’s Annual Conference in Liverpool (Wednesday 1 July 2009).
Doctors rejected calls from Tameside doctor, Kailash Chand to change legislation to allow the choice of an assisted death by patients who are terminally ill and who have mental capacity.
Doctors also rejected calls to ensure that those accompanying the patient at an assisted death, but not actively participating, will not be subject to criminal prosecution.
Dr Brian Keighley, Deputy Chairman of the BMA in Scotland, said:
“It is clear that doctors do not wish to play a role in assisting a patient’s death. Assisting patients to die prematurely is not part of the moral ethos or the primary goal of medicine. If the legislation were to be changed, it would have serious negative consequences on the relationship between doctors and their patients.“It remains vital that access to the best quality palliative care is available in order to ensure that terminal suffering is properly managed.”Independent MSP Margo Macdonald has secured sufficient support to introduce the End of Life Choices Bill in the Scottish Parliament. The BMA remains opposed to the principles of this proposed legislation.
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