PALLIATIVE CARE BILL TO BE INTRODUCED

PALLIATIVE CARE BILL TO BE INTRODUCED

When: 11.30 Monday 14th September 2009

Where: Committee Room 1 - Scottish Parliament

A bill to ensure every Scot has the right to high quality palliative care will begin it's parliamentary passage on Monday as Gil Paterson MSP reveals the high level of public and cross party support for the proposed Palliative Care (Scotland) bill.

Nearly two-thirds of respondents in a public consultation and almost a third of MSPs support the parliamentary progress of the Palliative Care (Scotland) Bill.

The objective of the Bill is to secure high-quality palliative care for everyone in Scotland on the basis of need. It offers the prospect of a “good death” for people with life-limiting disease and puts the aims of the Governments “Living and Dying Well” strategy on a statutory footing.

Gil Paterson will introduce the Members Bill in Parliament following further consultation on the most appropriate measures of high-quality palliative care for the Scottish healthcare system.