In Parliament

As part of the debate on the proposed Budget for 2025-26 I asked about the support for Scotland's hospices

Bob Doris (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP)

I recently met Hospice UK, and it was sobering to hear that UK Labour’s national insurance increases will rob Scotland’s hospices of £2.5 million each and every year. Combined with challenges over core funding and matching NHS pay awards, an under-pressure sector needs support. How can today’s budget help Scotland’s hospices?

Shona Robison

I absolutely agree with Bob Doris about the importance of our hospice sector. We will provide £4 million for the hospice sector and, from 2025-26, will align the support that we provide for pay uplifts in the hospice sector to the outcomes of the NHS agenda for change negotiations. I know that that is a really important matter for our hospice sector. That will ensure that hospices get the additional funding that is needed to enable their healthcare staff to receive pay increases that match those of NHS staff. I hope that Bob Doris and others will welcome that.