Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure NHS commissioning for hospice care is consistent in all parts of the country; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of ringfencing long-term funding for hospices.

No specific assessment has been made.

As part of the Health and Care Act 2022, palliative care services were specifically added to the list of services an integrated care board must commission. This will ensure a more consistent national approach and support commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care.

NHS England have published new statutory guidance on palliative and end of life care to support commissioners with this duty, which includes specific reference to ensuring there is sufficient provision of specialist palliative care services and hospice beds.