A new sector‑wide summary of Key Asks for the next Scottish Parliament has recently been produced by the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care, bringing together expert recommendations on how to improve experiences of death, dying and bereavement in Scotland.

Speaking on behalf of the Mental health and wellbeing in advanced illness network (MAIN), Dr Anne Finucane, co-lead for MAIN, attended a meeting of the Cross-Party Group in February 2026, where she highlighted the need to strengthen mental health and psychological support for people living with advanced illness. Her key priorities include:

      (1) Recognising the emotional impact of advanced illness within future mental health strategies.
      (2) Providing training for all healthcare professionals to assess psychological needs and deliver basic support.
      (3) Improving integration between mental health and palliative care services to address current gaps in access.

These recommendations sit alongside broader national priorities identified by experts across palliative care, bereavement support, children’s services, primary care, hospice and care home provision, funeral poverty, and community‑based approaches.