Independent hospices across Scotland are set to receive a welcome boost as the Scottish Government confirms £5 million of funding to support fair pay for frontline staff.
The investment, outlined in the 2025‑26 Budget, will ensure clinical staff in independent hospices are paid in line with their NHS counterparts.
Hospice leaders say the move will help them recruit and retain skilled professionals at a time of growing pressure on services and rising demand for palliative care.
For many families, hospices are places of comfort and compassion when it is needed most.
The people who work there support patients through their final days and help loved ones navigate the hardest moments of their lives.
Health Secretary Neil Gray said the funding recognises the value of this work.
He praised the care delivered by hospice staff and welcomed the chance to support pay parity.
“Independent hospices provide vital care and support to people and families across Scotland at the most difficult times in their lives,” he said.
“I am pleased we are able to support these organisations in supporting pay parity for their clinical staff.
“This funding recognises the skilled, compassionate care that hospice staff deliver every day, and helps ensure their pay reflects the immense value of their work.”
The Chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group, Jacki Smart, described the investment as an important first step.
She said it is right that hospice staff are paid fairly and that future funding must keep pace with the needs of the sector.
“This is a welcome first step in recognising the needs of the hospice sector, which plays a key role in delivering specialist palliative care for Scotland,” she said.
“It is right for patients and staff that hospices can pay skilled professionals fairly and in line with NHS colleagues, and we need to keep pace on this.”
The funding announcement has been widely welcomed across the sector and offers reassurance to staff and patients alike.
For those facing the most delicate and personal journeys, it is another sign that their care and the people who provide it truly matter.
