Ayrshire Hospice’s chief executive has warned Scotland’s palliative care “is very much at a crossroads” as she demanded better funding from the Scottish Government.

Tracy Flynn is joining other hospice leaders throughout Scotland in voicing their concerns that wage bills could increase by around £12 million if they continue to compete with NHS and care service workers’ salaries.

Meeting at a round table discussion with MSPs in the Scottish Parliament on March 2, the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group will discuss concerns surrounding rising bills and increasing demands.

Tracy said: “The future of palliative care across Scotland is very much at a crossroads.

“The external demands of increased running costs, remaining competitive with NHS Scotland payscales are having a serious impact on hospices to ensure they can still deliver the outstanding level of quality and care to patients and their families.

“Along with colleagues from across Scotland, we are coming together to ask the Scottish Government for further support to help tackle the challenges we currently face.”

There are also concerns that without more financial support, the strains hospices face will have a knock-on effect on other areas in the NHS, as patients who would normally be cared for in hospices may have to turn to general hospitals.

ACCORD Hospice CEO Jakki Smart, speaking as the chair of the Scottish Hospice Leadership Group, said: “The predicted circa £12m increase in hospices’ wage bill is a small drop compared to the £1 billion investment Scottish Government is planning to provide for NHS staff pay uplifts over two years.

“We are seeking support in the short term to remain competitive with the salary uplifts applied to NHS pay scales.

“In the long-term, we want to work together with the Scottish Government to allow Hospices to develop services in response to the changing needs of the people we serve.

“A new national partnership between hospices and Scottish Government will allow hospices to continue to support statutory services to meet palliative care needs in their communities.”

The group plan to also highlight the problems at a Ministerial meeting on March 14.

Hospices across Scotland help around 22,000 patients a year as they take care of patients inside their facilities whilst also supporting patients to receive care at home.