MSPs to hold inquiry into end of life care

A HOLYROOD committee is to hold an inquiry into the quality of end of life care in Scotland with MSPs due to look at the support available to terminally ill patients and their families.

Labour believe the recent assisted suicide debate demonstrated that current care is not up to standard. Picture: Esme Allen

The inquiry “We need to talk to Palliative Care” will focus on how patients can get the palliative care they need regardless of where they live and whatever the condition they are diagnosed with.

Holyrood’s health and sport committee launched the initiative at Marie Curie’s Hospice in Glasgow, where MSPs made a plea to the families of patients who have used end of life care services to state their views about the quality of services.

Labour MSP Duncan McNeil, convener of the committee, said the high profile debate about legalising assisted suicide “highlighted that the provision of palliative care in Scotland is not good enough”.

The Committee is also investigating how information should be made available to patients and their families about the types of support that is available and when the right time is to start talking about options for palliative care.