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Chamber and committees

The Scottish Ambulance Service and Macmillan Palliative and End of Life Care Project

  • Submitted by: Bob Doris, Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn, Scottish National Party.
  • Date lodged: Friday, 20 June 2025
  • Motion reference: S6M-18043

That the Parliament commends all those involved in delivering the Macmillan Palliative and End of Life Care Project, a successful partnership between the Scottish Ambulance Service and Macmillan Cancer Support; understands that the project sought to provide the required skills and training to ambulance professionals to best support those requiring palliative and end of life care, including the development and delivery of 29 alternative care pathways to ensure that the most appropriate support is offered to patients, seeing a significant reduction in unscheduled and unnecessary hospital admissions; acknowledges that around one in five emergency calls in 2023 related to patients with palliative care needs, and that many were needlessly being admitted to an acute setting; understands that the project enabled an increased number of patients to remain in their own homes, 80% in 2024 compared with 30% in 2019 before the project started; further understands that 88% of carers rated the care offered by Scottish Ambulance Service clinicians as either excellent or good, and that there was a clear increase in individuals experiencing care that is timely, clinically effective, respectful, and aligns with preferences; notes that the project received the Top Team award at the Scottish Health Awards 2024, in recognition of the positive impact that the partnership has demonstrated, and hopes that resource can be identified to roll out, embed and further develop this enhanced service for all those requiring palliative and end of life care.


Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Jeremy Balfour, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Annabelle Ewing, Murdo Fraser, Kenneth Gibson, Rhoda Grant, Dr Sandesh Gulhane (Registered interest) , John Mason, Liam McArthur, Stuart McMillan, Audrey Nicoll, Alex Rowley, Kevin Stewart, Paul Sweeney, David Torrance, Tess White, Elena Whitham, Brian Whittle, Humza Yousaf