4. To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Sue Ryder report, “A Better Grief”. (S5O-03029)

The Scottish Government welcomes the helpful focus on bereavement that the report brings. My officials recently met Sue Ryder to discuss some of the themes in the report, and officials are exploring with the national health service and independent and third sector colleagues how the messages in the report can shape our bereavement work, to help to ensure that people with grief can access the care and support that is right for their individual circumstances.

The minister knows from this important report that 72 per cent of people have been bereaved at least once in the past five years but only 40 per cent know what kind of help and support to offer someone who is bereaved. Will he outline the Scottish Government’s plans to carry out research into the availability of bereavement support and the impact of different bereavement services, as proposed in the Sue Ryder “A Better Grief” report?

The Government is in discussion with a number of organisations, including the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care, and we have met Sue Ryder, as I said, to understand how we can better provide support.

I recognise the member’s longstanding interest in supporting bereaved families. I will be happy to meet her if she wants to discuss how we can take that work forward.

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

We have time for a quick supplementary.

First, I thank Sue Ryder for the report and congratulate it and Hospice UK. There was an ask in the report about having local primary care teams identify support for people and signpost to it; that is important. Many members will have met constituents who are in the position—

The Deputy Presiding Officer:

Will you ask your question, please?

Will the Government support that approach and fund posts in general practitioners’ surgeries?

Access to support is important. Bereavement is unique to each individual and bereavement services have to be flexible and to connect with local networks that can provide support. As I said, officials have discussed with Sue Ryder—and are discussing with other partners, including Cruse Bereavement Care—how best to do that. Members across the Parliament can work to ensure that we provide the best possible support, which is right for individuals.

We have asked the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care to work with NHS inform to improve the online content that is available in relation to palliative and end-of-life care and bereavement.

This is an on-going process and we need to continue to do what we can to make services better.