16 January 2009
By David Scott
A parliamentary audit committee has told the Scottish Government that it needs to improve data collection to provide better NHS palliative care services.
The Scottish Parliament's public audit committee, in a report published on January 14, said improved data collection would allow a more consistent approach to monitoring and planning, which would result in a higher quality service.
The report followed an inquiry by the committee into a recent study of palliative care by auditor general Bob Black. It urged health boards to be more consistent when commissioning palliative care services from providers, such as voluntary organisations, to ensure value for money is achieved.
Committee convener Hugh Henry said guidance should be issued to health boards on what should be included in their funding allocation to voluntary sector bodies.
The committee welcomed the findings of the Scottish Government's national action plan, Living and Dying Well, which recognised the potential to enhance the final years of terminally-ill people and those close to them.
Henry said the plan represented a step forward in providing consistent palliative care across Scotland. He added: 'We are recommending that the Scottish Government improves its data collection… and monitoring of service delivery across Scotland.'
The committee also called for a more consistent approach by health boards on patient resuscitation, stressing that a single policy was necessary if patients' wishes were to be respected.
PFjan2009
