The data used in this publication were extracted from the SMR national databases in August 2025. Full details of [SMR data completeness](https://publichealthscotland.scot/services/data-management/data-management-in-secondary-care-hospital-activity/scottish-morbidity-records-smr/completeness/) and can be found on the SMR Completeness page.
Making information publicly available; allowing assessment of implementation/impact of policies or targets.
SMR01 and SMR04 standard validation processes; wide stakeholder consultation on technical methodology.
Trend information from 2010/11 to 2024/25 is available and is not comparable to figures published previously.
It is the policy of PHS to make its web sites and products accessible according to [published guidelines](https://www.publichealthscotland.scot/accessibility).
The percentage of last 6 months of life spent at home or in a community setting
Please see our [privacy notice](https://publichealthscotland.scot/our-privacy-notice/organisational-background) on the Public Health Scotland website.
Our statistics comply with the [Code of Practice for Statistics](https://code.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/the-code) in terms of trustworthiness, high quality and public value. This also means that we keep data secure at all stages, through collection, processing, analysis and output production, and adhere to the ['five safes'](https://blog.ons.gov.uk/2017/01/27/the-five-safes-data-privacy-at-ons).
The percentage of last 6 months of life spent at home or in a community setting. Includes all ages, sex, SIMD quintile and urban rural classification. Deaths resulting from external causes are excluded. End of life care (palliative care) is an important, integral aspect of the health care provided to those living with and dying from any advanced or progressive and life-threatening condition. It is now possible to predict the progress of many of these conditions, enabling a planned approach to end of life care in ways which reflect, as far as possible, the needs and wishes of patients, carers and their families. More information is available at [Public Health Scotland](https://publichealthscotland.scot/publications/percentage-of-end-of-life-spent-at-home-or-in-a-community-setting/percentage-of-end-of-life-spent-at-home-or-in-a-community-setting-financial-years-ending-31-march-2016-to-2025/).
All data are revised to ensure the most complete data are presented. Data for most recent financial year are provisional and will be updated in the October 2026 publication. Revisions of this nature are due to incomplete data returns at the time of publication. There was a change in the October 2024 publication to the age bands from the financial year 2014/15 where the age group 0-54 has been spilt into 0-17, 18-44 and 45-54.
Palliative And End Of Life Care Indicator
Data file for Palliative and End of Life Care