There is only one chance to get it right.

At Strathcarron Hospice, we welcome the clear and urgent message set out in Hospice UK’s “One chance to get it right” manifesto. It rightly highlights what we see every day across our communities: demand for palliative and end of life care is rising, and without sustainable, long-term solutions, too many people risk missing out on the care, dignity and compassion they deserve.

We know there is only one chance to get care right at the end of life. For the 20,000 people supported by hospices across Scotland each year, and the many more who will need care in the future. This is not a policy debate, but a deeply human issue affecting families at their most vulnerable.

As your local Hospice for our communities of Forth Valley, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, we are proud to provide specialist care both within our inpatient unit and, increasingly, in people’s own homes. Like hospices across Scotland, more than 80% of our care is delivered in the community, supporting people to stay where they most want to be, reducing pressure on hospitals, and helping families feel supported.

We want to be clear: Strathcarron Hospice is not closing beds or reducing our workforce. Our focus remains firmly on delivering safe, expert high-quality care for everyone who needs us, now and in the future.

However, the challenges outlined in this manifesto are real. Rising costs, increasing demand, and a funding model that has not kept pace mean hospices are being asked to do more with less. Across Scotland, up to 90% of people who die could benefit from palliative care, yet too many still spend unnecessary time in hospital because community services are not resourced to meet demand.

This is why we support the manifesto’s call for a long-term, sustainable funding model, including fair pay parity with NHS colleagues, and an independent review of palliative care to plan for the future. Without this, the gap between what people need and what services can provide will continue to grow.

We also strongly support efforts to ensure equitable access to palliative care for all, regardless of postcode, age or circumstance. Everyone deserves the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

Hospices are not just part of the system, they are a vital solution. By investing in hospice and community-based care, we can ease pressure on hospitals, improve patient experience, and ensure better use of public resources. Most importantly, we can ensure that people are supported to live well until they die.

Strathcarron Hospice stands ready to work with the Scottish Government and partners across health and social care to help shape a sustainable future. Our communities have always shown extraordinary generosity in supporting hospice care. Now we need a national commitment to match that local compassion.

Because when it comes to the end of life, there is only one chance to get it right.

To read more about our Hospice: Strathcarron Hospice Strategy 

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