FOI 25-456 End of Life Care Patients
Freedom of Information Request
- Reference
- FOI 25-456 End of Life Care Patients
- Request Date
- 13 Oct 2025
- Response Date
- 07 Nov 2025
- Information Requested
In 2024 how many adult end of life (EOL) patients did the ambulance service attend.
How many adult EOL patients accessed your service more than once after being identified as EOL?
How many of these adult EOL patients were conveyed to hospital?
Do you have access to Palliative Care advice?
If so, what hours and who can you speak to?
What DNACPR forms does your service have access to?
Are they in an electronic form for you to access?
Is your ambulance service able where appropriate, access anticipatory medications for dying patients.
If so, how does this work?
Do you have a Paramedic EOL Lead?
Do you have a Medical EOL Lead?
Do you have any local guidance about leaving dying patients at home or transferring to other services?
Are you able to share this?
Are you able to convey dying patients to anywhere other than the emergency department.
What training do you offer your paramedics and non-registered staff around palliative care and end of life care?
How often does this training occur?
In what format does this training occur?
- Response
How many adult EOL patients accessed your service more than once after being identified as EOL? How many of these adult EOL patients were conveyed to hospital?
As part of an ongoing project, the Scottish Ambulance Service are engaged with business intelligence clinical outcomes analysts to understand both the End of Life and Palliative demand on SAS; but as far as historical data goes that is information not held. It is for this reason we have applied the exemption Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act 2002 as information not held.
Do you have access to Palliative Care advice?
Yes, the service has established approximately 30 alternative pathways to Emergency Department admission across Scotland which can be accessed by clinicians looking to speak directly with a palliative care specialist.
If so, what hours and who can you speak to?
Hours vary across all pathways. On most occasions it would be a consultant in palliative medicine or Registrar.
What DNACPR forms does your service have access to? Are they in an electronic form for you to access?
The Scottish Ambulance Service can access DNACPR information from the patient directly in paper format when on scene. In addition, we also have access to Emergency Care Summary which would indicate if a DNACPR is active. This links with the RESPECT forms also. These can be accessed from the Ambulance Control Clinical Hub as well as in the ambulance in cab technology.
Is your ambulance service able where appropriate, access anticipatory medications for dying patients. If so, how does this work?
Yes, SAS clinicians, both Paramedic and Technicians can access and administer anticipatory medications where prescribed and are with the patient. Technicians must have a professional-to-professional discussion via the clinical hub or from one of the pathways mentioned above prior to administration. Paramedics can give as per the MARR chart. In addition, where no anticipatory medications are prescribed but are required, a Paramedic or above can give SAS stock Morphine and Midazolam. Advanced Practitioners carry Hyoscine Butylbromide and can administer/prescribe where qualified.
Do you have a Paramedic EOL Lead?
Yes
Do you have a Medical EOL Lead?
This workstream is under the Clinical Directorate overseen by the Medical Director
Do you have any local guidance about leaving dying patients at home or transferring to other services? Are you able to share this?
Scottish Ambulance Service crews can leave patients at home following discussion with one of the alternative pathways where appropriate. This can result in either a DN team or outreach team attending following SAS or other follow up such as GP visit etc.
Are you able to convey dying patients to anywhere other than the emergency department.
Yes, SAS can admit directly to a hospice or hospital ward following discussion with one of the pathways mentioned above.
What training do you offer your paramedics and non registered staff around palliative care and end of life care? How often does this training occur? In what format does this training occur?
Training is ongoing throughout the year, there are CPD sessions running as well as dedicated TURAS modules developed and available for staff to complete.
