Marie Curie will still give overnight care to end of life patients in Moray

Marie Curie Scotland has said it will continue to provide overnight care for terminally ill patients in Moray and Aberdeenshire.

From the start of next month NHS Grampian will take over responsibility for providing out-of-hours care to other types of patients.

However this changeover will not impact the service currently provided to those nearing the end of their lives.

Libby Milton, the charity's associate director of strategic partnerships and services, said: "All Marie Curie Scotland services are commissioned with NHS and health and social care partners. To ensure we respond and adapt to patients’ needs in the community they are reviewed on a regular basis.

"Following discussions with NHS Grampian, the decision has been mutually reached that to meet the current needs of the people in Grampian on a 24-hour basis, there will be changes to services locally.

"As out of hours, non-emergency, community nursing aligns with our NHS colleagues they will be taking on the delivery of this part of the service.

"This will result in Marie Curie’s Rapid Response service being withdrawn on September 30, but our Marie Curie community nursing team will still be continuing with planned overnight care to end of life patients.

"We believe this new approach will bring many positive outcomes to the people in Grampian.

"Providing care and support to terminally ill people and their loved ones in the comfort in their own homes is at the heart of what Marie Curie does and where we can make the biggest impact.

"We are privileged that we will continue to be there for people in their final months, weeks, days and hours when they need us most."

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.