Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to increase the availability of palliative and end of life care in the community.

During the pandemic, we have made more than £400 million available to palliative and end of life care providers, including hospices. This included funding for community contacts to provide support to those at the end of life being cared for at home.

Palliative and end of life care services are commissioned by integrated care boards to meet the needs of the local population. NHS England has developed seven palliative and end of life care Strategic Clinical Networks, working with commissioners to implement sustainable commissioning models. This includes the development of service specifications and an investment framework which incorporates community services.