Marie Curie Scotland is calling on the next Scottish government to legislate to deliver a right to palliative care to ensure that everyone, wherever they live in Scotland, can access timely, person‑centred support. The call comes as the end of life charity publishes research that suggests as many as one in three people in Scotland are not getting the care they need when they need it most.

Marie Curie says new methodology, developed alongside the University of Edinburgh, King’s College London and Hull York Medical School provides the ‘most accurate measure of unmet need for palliative care to date’.

The analysis paints a worse picture than the previous estimate of one in four people at end of life whose needs are not being met – though the researchers say the new approach includes more indicators so should be used as a new baseline rather than a direct comparison with past data.

The charity says the figures reveal substantial inequity at the end of life.

Applied to 2022 National Records of Scotland data, researchers calculate that 30% (18,574 people) who died that year had both unaddressed symptoms and concerns, and insufficient access to GP care.

Marie Curie Scotland Associate Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Amy Dalrymple says the data again shows the scale of the challenge facing Scotland’s health and social care system:

“Unmet palliative care need results in poorer physical and mental health, increased financial pressures for families and carers, and avoidable strain on Scotland’s health and social care services.

“Scotland’s ageing population and rising numbers of people living with multiple serious illnesses mean that, without investment and reform, the gap between what people need and what the system can provide will continue to widen.”

Last year, the Scottish government published Palliative Care Matters for All, its 2025 to 2030 palliative care strategy.

The strategy commits Scotland to gathering data and engaging the public to inform strategic planning, to make sure people get the health and social care they need, reducing inequalities and uphold people's rights.

A right to palliative care

Marie Curie Scotland is calling on the next Scottish Government ‘to legislate to deliver a Right to Palliative Care to ensure that everyone – regardless  of age, diagnosis or postcode – can access timely, person‑centred support’.

It says palliative care needs to be embedded across all community health services so people get support closer to home and unnecessary hospital admissions are reduced.

The charity wants to see the creation of a national specialist palliative care advice line through NHS 24.

Ms Dalrymple says nobody should be denied the care and support they need at the end of their lives:

“The new findings confirm what many families and frontline professionals have long recognised: too many people in Scotland still die without the support they urgently need.

“Marie Curie Scotland stands ready to work in partnership with the Scottish government, NHS and care providers to deliver equitable, compassionate end‑of‑life care for everyone.”

Dr Anne Finucane, Marie Curie Senior Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh says the findings show there are too many gaps at present – and demand for services is going to increase:

“Our research shows that many people are spending their final days and weeks of life with unrelieved symptoms, and do not have adequate access to the palliative care support that they need.

“Unless action is taken, the number of people with unmet needs as end of life approaches will continue to rise.

“Investment in palliative care is urgently needed, especially for those cared for in the community, so that everyone can access the care they need to live well, in comfort and with dignity, in their last days.”

 

Read more: ‘Too many missing out’ on palliative care; Scotland’s third sector calls for health partnership; New palliative care strategy for Scotland

Sign up to our bulletin for key health & social care updates straight to your inbox.