TERMINALLY ill patients were yesterday promised better care.
Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon’s pledge came after a report found “inconsistencies” in services for different illnesses.
Audit Scotland’s study revealed 90 per cent of specialist care was delivered to cancer patients. But the disease accounted for fewer than 30 per cent of deaths.
The report also found communities outside the Central Belt didn’t have access to as many services for the terminally ill.
Around pounds 59million was spent on this type of care in 2006- 7, half of which came from the voluntary sector.
Sturgeon said a government action plan in October would improve treatment for patients outside the Central Belt.
She added: “This is a process already under way.
“But there’s no doubt we have to accelerate that progress.”
(c) 2008 Daily Record; Glasgow (UK). Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.
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