You may have seen the recent announcement that independent hospices across Scotland, including Kilbryde, have received a share of £5 million in additional funding from the Scottish Government. This investment, set out in the 2025–26 Budget, is a welcome step forward in supporting progress toward pay parity for frontline hospice staff with their NHS counterparts.

While this is a positive development, more support is urgently needed. Following the 4.25% pay uplift awarded to most NHS staff in June, hospices across Scotland now face an additional £3.6 million funding shortfall to keep pace.

Gordon McHugh, Chief Executive of Kilbryde Hospice, said: “We welcome this investment as a positive signal of intent. Our staff are compassionate, skilled, and deeply committed to the people we serve — they deserve to be valued fairly for the incredible work they do.

While this funding is a helpful step in the right direction, it must form part of a longer-term solution. We are encouraged by the Scottish Government’s recognition of this and that work will continue alongside discussions to develop a fair and sustainable funding framework that keeps pace with NHS pay awards.

Without that longer-term commitment, hospices will continue to face incredibly difficult decisions — and that puts services and families at risk.”

Kilbryde Hospice is proud to serve the people of South Lanarkshire. While this funding is an encouraging development, sustained action is essential to ensure hospices can continue delivering the specialist care and support that communities rely on — now and in the years ahead.