Warning that hospices face staffing crisis

Renfrewshire hospices have warned they face a staffing catastrophe unless the Scottish Government meets an earlier commitment around wages.

- EDEL KENEALY

Accord and St Vincent's hospices have confirmed they face a retention crisis if ministers fail to fund staff wage increases in line with the NHS.

The government had, in its 2025 budget, committed £5 million for hospices and alignment of pay uplifts to NHS pay awards.

But the 4.25 per cent awarded to NHS staff means the hospices will need a collective £8.6m to offer their nurses, doctors and other health professionals the same pay.

The hospices say they fear they will lose their staff if they cannot afford to meet the salaries provided in the public sector.

For most of the lifeline services - who provide palliative care for people in inpatient units and at their homes - the wage bill accounts for 70 per cent of their overall costs.

For Accord alone, it is due to receive £175,000 of the pledged £5m but, crucially, needs an additional £150,000 to meet the required wage increases in the 2025/26 financial year.