Two of Britain's leading charities The British Heart Foundation  and Marie Curie Cancer Care today announced a £3.6 million investment to establish a groundbreaking palliative care service based at the Marie Curie Hospice in Glasgow.

This project will be the first of its kind in Britain and will see £1.8 million invested in the centre to provide services for advanced heart failure patients and their families. A further £1.8 million will fund research and evaluation of the project and establish how the needs of these patients can best be met, now and in the future.

The pioneering partnership will jointly develop innovative ideas to provide such support and care which may in the future benefit patients throughout Scotland.

Sandra White MSP for the Glasgow Region welcomed the investment and said: "More people in Glasgow die from heart failure than in any other part of the UK, yet at present only a tiny percentage receive access to Palliative care and this investment will undoubtedly go a long way in addressing this disparity"

"This is fantastic news for Glasgow; one which I thoroughly welcome and I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate the charities involved for their support and great faith in the expertise and ability of staff at the Marie Curie Hospice."

"This world class facility will be a first for the UK and will be of huge benefit in informing future palliative care facilities, bringing dignity and comfort to these patients and their families alike"

Note:

Sandra White's motion:

S3M-3133 Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): Glasgow's New Centre of Excellence
That the Parliament welcomes the groundbreaking commitment by the British Heart Foundation Scotland and Marie Curie Cancer Care to invest £3.6 million in a centre of excellence in Glasgow to provide a comprehensive service for advanced heart failure patients and their families; considers that these services will create a gold standard in palliative care for patients in the advanced stages of heart failure and pioneer a model of care for patients in Scotland and across the United Kingdom, and believes that sufferers and their families will benefit greatly from the dignity and peace of mind that this investment will bring.