7. To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase funding for hospices to ensure that they can manage any rising costs, in light of the reported increase in the number of people in need of palliative care. (S6O-02194)

We are considering the issues that the hospice sector raised at its meeting in March with the then Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the then Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport, including funding and the long-term sustainability of the hospice sector.

We are aware of Scottish research that shows a rise in the number of people with palliative care need, and the Scottish Government is developing a new palliative and end-of-life care strategy to ensure that everyone who needs it can access seamless, timely and high-quality palliative care.

Although I welcome the pay uplift for national health service staff under the agenda for change in Scotland, hospices are crying out for funding to help them to match that uplift and ensure that their salaries remain competitive with those of the NHS.

Considering that Ayrshire Hospice is facing the perfect storm of rising staff costs, increasing energy and running costs and a tough fundraising environment, what discussions have ministers had with the sector on a new model of funding to help hospices to retain staff? Will the minister commit to meeting the chief executive officer of Ayrshire Hospice, Tracy Flynn, to discuss its issues with funding and how its work impacts the people of Ayrshire?

I thank Sharon Dowey for her question. As I said, we have met and started discussions with the hospice sector. I would be happy to meet more to hear its concerns. We have to recognise the hospice sector and support it as best we can, given all the impacts on it.

The Presiding Officer:

That concludes general questions.