Remit
The Health and Sport Committee is holding an inquiry into Palliative Care in Scotland. The remit of the inquiry is set out below.
“We need to talk about Palliative Care”.
A: Access to Palliative Care. What are the barriers to consistent access to Palliative Care and how can those barriers be overcome? When Palliative Care provision is based on needs, how can access to appropriate Palliative Care provision be assured across different conditions, locations (such as at home, or hospice) and prognoses? What are the benefits and potential drawbacks of having a named healthcare professional for each patient/family in receipt of Palliative Care?
B: The initial conversations about palliative and end of life care. Is this the access point to the care pathway? When should it take place? Who with and what should be asked? What is the role of carers and families? Are heath and care professional adequately supported to hold these conversations?
C: The Committee has also agreed to undertake some focussed research into international comparisons of measurement of data used in palliative and end of life care including: What indicators are used to measure the access to and the quality of Palliative and end of life care in other countries? Which indicators have proven effective and why, based on international experiences and research?
Timetable
Call for written views
The Committee has issued a call for written views which will run from 2 July to 12 August 2015.
Read the call for views
We need to talk about Palliative Care - Written Submissions
On 6 October 2015, the Committee received an update from the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport.
The Committee published its report on Palliative Care on 25 November 2015.
On 21 January 2016, the Committee received a response from the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport.
On 26 January 2016, the Committee to evidence from the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport.
On 22 March 2016, the Committee received an update from from the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport.
Evidence
On 18 September, the Committee visited CHAS Rachel House, Kinross
On 21 September, the Committee visited Ardgowan Hospice, Greenock.