Hospices to receive additional £2.9m in government funding

Independent hospices will now receive an additional £2.9m in the 2026-2027 financial year, bringing total funding to £9.4m.

The funding, confirmed in the Scottish Government’s 2026-27 budget, aims to ensure staff providing palliative care are paid in line with their NHS counterparts and support recruitment as demand for services increases.

Sector chiefs have previously warned about financial pressures and rising demand for palliative care services.

A Hospice UK survey last year found wo thirds of Scottish hospices have either made cuts or are planning to in the next year as underfunding has left them “stretched to breaking point.”

Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health Jenni Minto said: “I am pleased to support the crucial work carried out by hospice staff, providing high quality, compassionate palliative care.

“Hospice staff do something truly remarkable, supporting patients and families during the most difficult moments of their lives and offering not just care, but comfort, dignity and kindness. That kind of dedication is immeasurable, and it’s only right that their pay reflects just how much they are valued.

“We understand the pressures hospices are facing and will continue to engage closely with the Scottish Hospices Leadership Group to see what more can be done to support palliative care services, including independent hospices in Scotland.”

Jacki Smart, CEO of ACCORD Hospice and Chair of the Scottish Hospices Leadership Group, said: “Scotland’s hospices warmly welcome this £9.4m investment. It’s a significant and much needed step toward fair pay for hospice staff, and it reflects a growing recognition of the essential role hospices play in delivering specialist palliative and end of life care and the complexity and compassion their roles demand.

“This commitment values the skilled and compassionate professionals who support patients and families every single day, and it helps strengthen the foundations of a sustainable workforce at a time of rising demand and financial pressure.”