Scores of terminally ill Fifers are at risk of dying in hospital instead of at home as funding cuts bite, a leading charity has claimed.
Marie Curie has announced it is ending its palliative care services in the region at the end of May amid fears the rates being offered in a new contract would not allow it to deliver the same level of quality care.
The organisation said the rates quoted by Fife Health and Social Care Partnership were “unrealistic and restrictive”.
Richard Meade, Marie Curie head of policy and public affairs in Scotland, predicted the contract would result in reduced quality of care and warned the impact would extend beyond patients.
“People are more likely to die in hospital than in the community or in their own home, putting greater pressure on acute services,” he said.
“It can also have an immediate and long term impact on family members who may have to provide the main caring role.
“Without adequate support from services families are at increased risk of being overwhelmed by that role and the possibility of the care breaking down.
“This can have a significant negative impact on how they are able to cope with bereavement and grief.”
Mr Meade said the Health and Social Care Partnership, jointly run by NHS Fife and Fife Council, had incorporated palliative care into a much larger contract dominated by social care. He cautioned against such a move, despite potential efficiencies.
Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alex Rowley described the news as worrying.
“It would seem cuts to budgets are being passed on in these vital services,” he said.
“End of life care and support should be of the best standard and quality and when we have an organisation with the expertise of Marie Curie telling us that this new contract cannot deliver this then we need to demand that the managers in health and social care think again.”
Claire Dobson, the partnership’s divisional general manager, said: “Regardless of who is delivering services, the provision of high quality care which ensures each individual’s personal dignity throughout their journey is our first priority.
“This is never more so when it comes to the sensitivity of palliative care and the choices of service users and their carers.
“As with all our service providers, we value greatly the working relationship with Marie Curie and so it is disappointing that we’ve not had the opportunity to discuss their concerns.
“We are actively seeking urgent discussions with them in order to find a more positive way forward.”
Widow vows to fight to retain service
A disabled Fife widow has vowed to fight to retain the service which proved vital to her dying husband.
Nan Bond, 70, from Pittenweem, said Marie Curie’s “angels in uniform” enabled her husband Rab to fulfil his wish to die with dignity at home and helped her cope with his illness.
Mrs Bond started a petition to retain the charity’s Hospice at Home service to fast track terminally ill patients out of hospital when it was under threat two years ago.
A change of heart by NHS Fife saw funding retained for the initiative but the pensioner is horrified families are about to find themselves in a similar position so soon.
Mrs Bond, who is currently helping to fundraise for the charity as part of its annual Great Daffodil Appeal, has decided to start another petition.
“We need this service but Marie Curie rightly won’t lower their standards,” she said.
“My husband was cared for by these nurses in the last few weeks of his life.
“Without them people will end up dying in hospital where they should not be. How degrading is that? I’m doing this in memory of my husband.”
Mrs Bond said the charity had offered much-needed support to her husband, to her and to the whole family.
She said: “They’re a wonderful team and Fife needs them. I’m prepared to go and do what I can.”