CANCER IN SCOTLAND: ACTION FOR CHANGE
06. PALLIATIVE CARE
"Palliative care is an integral part of all clinical practice which takes as its starting point the quality rather than the quantity of life remaining."
What has been invested Scotland-wide in palliative care |
2001-02 | 2002-03 |
1 million | 0.9 million |
Of this investment 0.9 million is for additional staff including at least 6 palliative care consultants, 4 clinical nurse specialists, 8 palliative care/ community nurses, 3 pharmacists and 6 other support staff such as a bereavement counsellor, auxiliary and administrative staff. 0.4 million on equipment, in particular additional equipment in the community such as pressure relieving mattresses, syringe drivers, hoists and communications equipment to link remote and rural areas with specialist palliative care centres. Some of the investment is targeted at staff training and development, such as: In Highland the development of courses and training to enhance the palliative care skills of health care professionals, improve clinical practice and the quality of service to patients. The updating of professional knowledge and skills in oncology and palliative care in Shetland among health, social care, education, carers and voluntary sector staff. The provision of palliative care training in nursing homes in Tayside to improve the quality of care provided.
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Integration of Planning and Delivery of Services
NHS Boards have either undertaken or are in the process of undertaking a needs assessment for palliative care to inform local planning and joint working across all care sectors.
Standards for Palliative Care
National care standards for care homes were issued by Scottish Ministers in November 2001 and will be monitored by the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care (the Care Commission). The Care Commission is to consider the 1997 NHS Core Standards for Nursing Homes Providing Palliative Care as a basis for palliative care in care homes. National care standards for hospice care were issued in March 2002 and include a standard that clinical care reflects the hospice's participation and achievement of satisfactory reports in the specialist palliative care CSBS accreditation programme.
The CSBS standards for breast, colorectal, lung and ovarian cancers all include core standards for palliative care.
Standards for specialist palliative care were developed and published by the CSBS in June 2002. Assessment visits will start in November 2002.