Palliative care strategy - service mapping survey: main findings report

Footnotes

1. This does not equate to 89 services as multiple individuals within organisations were contacted to take into account change of personnel and leave.

2. The Adult Specialist Palliative Care Services survey data related to financial year 2021-22, the Paediatric Palliative Care survey data related to financial year 2022-23; and the Health and Social Care and NHS Board survey data related to the time the survey was live in the autumn of 2023.

3. Definitions of services provided in the survey:

General (non-specialist) Palliative Care is provided by professionals and other staff for people they care for with palliative care needs and those who are dying as part of their job roles. This is the type of palliative care most people will receive from Health Board staff. Specialist Palliative Care is provided by specially trained multi-professional palliative care teams who can be based in an acute hospital or an NHS specialist palliative care unit, or may come from a hospice. Specialist palliative care has a specific role in providing support, advice, and education to the rest of the healthcare system.

4. As at 31 December 2023 the Scottish Workforce Information Standard System reports 38.5 WTE Consultants (0.7 per 100,000), 32.2 WTE Junior Doctors and 14.8 Specialty Doctors working in the Palliative Medicine.

5. Significant inter-referral and duplication of numbers identified.

6. Total number given by respondents, who may have interpreted the question differently. There was consensus at the validation meeting that services are under-reporting transitions.

7. Compassionate communities do not assume the formal service responsibilities of health and social care services - their role is different and complementary. Compassionate communities work together to build activity and networks that empower individuals to support each other through death, dying, loss and care.