New statutory rights to bereavement leave, including specific provision for pregnancy loss

The UK Government will introduce a new right to bereavement leave, from April 2027, for employees bereaved of a spouse or partner, parent, adult child or sibling. It will also include step, half, adoptive, kinship care and foster relationships who currently have no legal right to bereavement leave. Women and their partners who experience a pregnancy loss before 24 weeks – including miscarriage, terminations and unsuccessful IVF embryo transfers - will be entitled to up to two weeks of unpaid leave. This new right will also apply to the other biological parent, or intended parents in a surrogacy arrangement. 

Find out more here.

Scottish Government Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026 - 2031

The Scottish Government has published its Health and Care Improving Flow Plan 2026 - 2031, a five-year strategy to improve flow through health and care by creating one connected system, shifting more care to homes and communities, improving access and navigation, reducing hospital delays, and ensuring hospitals focus on urgent and specialist care.

SPPC Member briefing - Public Service Reform – what is it and what might the implications be for palliative care?

This member briefing by SPPC CEO Mark Hazelwood on public service reform will help explain the term, provide a brief history of PSR, and outline recent developments. It includes speculation on future development and considers some of the implications for palliative care. 

Read the briefing in full here.

SPPC letter urging cross-party action on palliative care

The SPPC has written to the leaders of all Scottish Parliament political parties urging cross-party action on palliative care.

In his letter, Mark Hazelwood, Chief Executive of the SPPC, highlights that debates around the Assisted Dying Bill identified a remarkable cross-party consensus that Scotland must do better in its provision of palliative care. This consensus was also evidenced in the range of commitments contained in party manifestos at the recent election. 

Within the letter, the SPPC asks that all parties:

• build on this consensus and work collaboratively over the life of this parliament to achieve the step change that is so urgently needed.
• support the development of national standards for palliative care.
• support a review of the resources required for meaningful change.

You can read the letter in full here: Letter to party leaders calling for cross-party action on palliative care

Consultation: Legal Aid Reform

Views are being sought on plans to reform the legal aid system (including power of attorney), improving the service for the people who use it and the professionals who deliver it. The Legal Aid Reform consultation sets out wide-ranging proposals to modernise the system, paving the way for a new Legal Aid (Scotland) Bill.

This consultation will run until 13 October 2026. Find out more and submit a response here.

PQ on Funding for Palliative Care

Question reference: S7W-02962

• Asked by: Paul McLennan, MSP for East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs, Scottish National Party
• Date lodged: Friday, 04 September 2026
• Current Status: Answered by Alison Thewliss on 16 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish any cost estimates, financial modelling or resource assessments relating to the implementation of the commitments contained in Palliative Care Matters for All: palliative care strategy 2025 to 2030

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PSD Scotland Bereavement Education Resources

Public Services Delivery Scotland (formerly NHS Education for Scotland) have produced two new bereavement education film resources.

• Different Ways to Say Goodbye: Compassionate Support Across Cultures: This film explores the complexities that can arise when different cultural perspectives on death and dying come together. Watch and share the film here.
• A Son’s Story: a Realistic Approach to End of Life Care: This film highlights the importance of effective communication, shared decision making, and understanding what matters most to people as they approach the end of life, so that care and treatment decisions reflect their values, preferences, and priorities. Watch and share the film here.

Latest Update on the Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines

New and updated guidelines:

• Opioid toxicity in palliative care: Opioid toxicity in palliative care | Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines
• Opioid induced respiratory depression requiring naloxone: Life-threatening opioid induced respiratory depression requiring naloxone | Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines
• Cancer-induced bone pain: Cancer-induced bone pain | Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines
• Deprescribing: Deprescribing in palliative care | Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines (in collaboration with the Scottish Polypharmacy guideline)
• Antibiotics in last days of life: Antibiotics in last days of life | Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines

New medicines information leaflets:

• Alfentanil - URGENT SAFETY UPDATE
• Subcutaneous clonidine in palliative care
• Subcutaneous NSAIDs in palliative care - ketorolac
• Subcutaneous NSAIDs in palliative care - parecoxib
• Subcutaneous NSAIDs in palliative care - diclofenac
• Furosemide by continuous subcutaneous infusion  
• Proton pump inhibitors - subcutaneous administration

Accessing the guidelines:

The new-look toolkit is available on the Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines website.

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Seeking respondents: online study on wellbeing in professionals who work with those who are dying

A postgraduate student in psychology at the University of Chichester is seeking people of any occupation working in end-of-life care to join a 14-day study for EOL professionals of factors influencing wellbeing and the effects on wellbeing of ultra-brief mindfulness-based (not meditation) practices. Total time required: <90 minutes (includes a pretest, a posttest and 3 minutes a day, whenever it suits you).

Find out more and join the study directly at this link: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/chichester/eol-wellbeing

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James Lind Alliance Delirium priority setting partnership: Help shape the future of delirium research in the UK

The James Lind Alliance’s delirium priority setting partnership is seeking responses for their shortlisting survey, setting out research priorities for the future of delirium research in the UK. 

They hope to hear from:

• People who have experienced delirium or people who are at risk of, or worried about, experiencing delirium in the future
• People who have cared for a family member or friend with delirium, or are close to someone who is at risk, or worried about experiencing delirium
• Health and social care professionals who have cared for someone with delirium, or who care for individuals who are at risk, or are worried about experiencing delirium

Find out more and complete the shortlisting survey here.

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SPPC Annual Conference: Tools for a Changing World

The Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care Annual Conference will take place on 28 October 2026 at the John McIntyre Conference Centre in Edinburgh. Catch up with colleagues from across Scotland and make new connections. hear new and challenging perspectives, take part in interactive sessions and be energised and inspired.

Check out the full programme and book your tickets here: Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care | Tools for a Changing World

To Absent Friends Festival 2026

To Absent Friends is an annual festival of remembrance that takes place across Scotland 1-7 November. Organisations and community groups in Scotland are encouraged to take part in the festival in whatever ways are meaningful for them.

Find out more about ways to take part here: To Absent Friends | Get Involved

Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief conference: Death literate communities: learning together, supporting each other

The GLGDGG conference will take place on 3 March 2027 at the Renfield Centre in Glasgow. 

A key aim of the Scottish Government Palliative Care Strategy is “enabling people and communities” to support each other with illness, dying and bereavement. But what are ‘communities’? How can they be ‘enabled’? And what do communities themselves have to say?

This conference explores these questions from various perspectives, with a key focus on practical actions that can achieve positive change. There will be a range of speakers and workshops, a chance to connect with others and share local work.

Find out more and book your place here.

SPPC Council - Treasurer Position

SPPC is looking to find a Treasurer to join the Council. More details here. Please feel free to draw the attention of finance colleagues to this opportunity. If you or someone you know might be interested and would like to discuss further, then please contact mark@palliativecarescotland.org.uk.

Follow us on social media

For updates on SPPC and Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief work, follow us on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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First annual report from Scotland’s Patient Safety Commissioner

This annual report provides an overview of the Commissioner’s activities, priorities and achievements during the reporting period. It outlines the work undertaken to improve patient safety in Scotland, highlights key findings and recommendations, and reports on progress against strategic objectives.

Read the report in full here.

SPICe briefing on Primary Care and General Practice in Scotland

A new SPICe briefing has been published on Primary Care and General Practice in Scotland. It explains what primary care is, how it operates in Scotland and outlines recent developments and initiatives. The briefing also provides an overview of continuing pressure on the sector, including increasing demand, workforce challenges, and difficulties in delivering reforms.

BMJ Editorial: Urgent need for system reform in future care planning, access to palliative care and care coordination

This editorial highlights work undertaken by the Supportive Health Intervention and Escalation for Life Decisions (SHIELD) programme, and promotes the need for systemic reform of future care planning and palliative care coordination.

Read the editorial in full here.

Focus on Frailty programme impact report 2025-26

Healthcare Improvement Scotland have published a report detailing improvements made in frailty services from teams setting up hospital front door frailty pathways, and improving integrated care coordination in primary, community and acute care. 

Read the report in full here.

Death and grief literacy in the context of loneliness: Insights from an international symposium

Death and grief literacy are increasingly recognised as crucial public health resources for responding to serious illness, dying, death, and bereavement. This critical essay summarises key discussions from a three-day international symposium, “Fostering Connection in Existential Phases of Life: How Do We Enhance Death and Grief Literacy?” (July 2025), which brought together experts from palliative care, caring communities, LGBTQ+ advocacy, migration studies, social work, volunteering, and psychosocial support. 

Read the essay in full here.

Holyrood Garden Party & Political Awards: Congratulations to Bob Doris MSP

Bob Doris MSP, the longstanding Convenor of the Cross Party Group on Palliative Care, has been recognised at the annual Holyrood awards bash. Bob, who worked with SPPC to propose numerous successful amendments to the Assisted Dying Bill, won the Political Hero of the Year award. This category is designed “to honour an individual or a collective body in Scottish public life who has worked tirelessly, often across party lines, to do the right thing. It is given to individuals who prioritize principle over party, earning the respect of peers across the entire parliamentary chamber.

SPPC would like to congratulate Bob Doris on this well-deserved honour.

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SUGEST Healthcare Professional Workshop

Organised by St Andrew’s University School of Medicine. Wednesday 7 October 2026, 12:00 to 13:30, Online via Microsoft Teams. 

Researchers at the University of St Andrews are inviting healthcare professionals working across NHS Scotland to take part in an online workshop exploring perspectives on the implementation of the Scottish Unscheduled Geriatric End-of-Life Screening Tool (SUGEST).

Find out more and book your place here.

Healthcare Conferences UK: Professional Development Conferences & Masterclasses

Organised by Healthcare Conferences UK. For dates and times of individual sessions, see below. Readers of this newsletter can receive a 20% discount with the code hcuk20sppc.

• Controlled Drugs Conference: Ensuring the Safer Management, Diversion & Abuse, Prescribing and Use, Wednesday 14^th October 2026, online. For further information and to book your place, click here or email emilyw@hc-uk.org.uk.
• Caldicott Principles & Information Sharing in End of Life Care, Friday 16^th October 2026, online. For more information and to book your place, click here or email emily@hc-uk.org.uk. For this conference only, newsletter readers can receive a discounted rate of just £195+VAT (usual rate £295+VAT). Please quote HCUK195CGEOLSO when booking.

Centre for Open Thanatology online conference

Organised by Open Thanatology (The Open University). 21 October, 9:30am-2pm, online.
 
Find out more and register here.

Coping with Professional Grief Workshop

Organised by Hospice UK. 21 October 2026, 10am - 12:30pm, online.

This course is tailored to frontline professionals working in healthcare, care settings, funeral services, social care and more, who may be supporting bereaved families and loved ones, as well as providing support and care for the patient.

Find out more and book your place here.

SPPC Annual Conference: Tools for a Changing World

Organised by SPPC. 28 October 2026, John McIntyre Conference Centre, Edinburgh. 

View the conference webpage here to find out more about the programme and see the call for posters and exhibitors.

Early-bird rates are available until 18 September. Book your place here.

5th Annual End of Life Doula Research Symposium: Producing Knowledge, Shaping Practice

Organised by End-of-Life Doula International Research Group (EOLD-IRG). 6–7 November 2026, online.

The symposium brings together end-of-life doulas, researchers, practitioners and community members from different parts of the world to share emerging research, exchange ideas and explore how knowledge can help shape the future of end-of-life doula support.

Find out more and register here.

From the Shadows: Shedding Light on Bereavement at the Margins

Organised by Public Services Delivery Scotland (formerly NES). 11 November 2026, online. 

Find out more and register here.

End Well 2026: Free Livestream

Organised by the End Well Project. Thursday 12 November 2026, Los Angeles and online. 

Register for the free livestream here.

Navigating Death Certification, Reporting to the Procurator Fiscal and Death Registration: A Masterclass Webinar Series 

Organised by NES (now Public Services Delivery Scotland), Bereavement Education Programme. 

This will be of particular relevance to medical staff, but others working across health and social care may also find benefit in attending some / all of the sessions.

Sessions will include:

• Thursday 19 November 13:00-14:00 - Reporting to the Procurator Fiscal: Understanding what to report, when and how
• Thursday 26 November 18:30-19:30 - Death Certification Masterclass: Completing the MCCD and navigating the review process
• Thursday 3 December 13:00-14:00 - Registration of Death: Supporting best practice beyond MCCD completion

For more information, visit their website.

The 7th International Symposium for the Arts in Palliative Care: “Encountering the arts in life, death and grief”

Organised by St Columba’s Hospice Care. 20 November 2026, No17 conference venue, St Columba’s Hospice, Edinburgh and online.

This international symposium has become an annual landmark event for the arts in palliative care. It brings together arts therapists, socially engaged arts practitioners, community artists, arts and health professionals as well as researchers, policy makers and community partners with a commitment to interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration.

For more information contact Giorgos Tsiris at arts@stcolumbashospice.org.uk. Find out more and register here.

We Need To Talk About Frailty Conference

Organised by St Christopher’s Hospice. Thursday 3 December 2026, St Christopher’s Care (London) and online.

Find out more and register here.

Marie Curie Research into Practice Conference 

Organised by Marie Curie. Commences 22 February 2027 for one week, online, free.

More information is available here: Research Conference 2027 | Marie Curie

Death Literate Communities: Learning Together, Supporting Each Other

Organised by Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief. 3 March 2027, Renfield Centre, Glasgow.

Find out more and book your place here.

European Association for Palliative Care: 21st World Congress

Organised by EAPC. 20-22 May 2027, Glasgow. The congress’ theme is Humanising the Future: New Generations, New Technologies, Enduring Values. 

4th International Death Literacies Symposium

Organised by the Death Literacy Institute. 11-13 October 2027, Kerala, India. 

Find out more and register here.

Find out more here.

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