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 improve children's palliative care services in Surrey Heath constituency.

Palliative care services, including children’s palliative care services, are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. To support ICBs, including Frimley ICB and Surrey Heartlands ICB which cover the Surrey Heath constituency, in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and a service specification for children and young people.

The Department and NHS England are currently working at pace to develop plans on how best to improve the access, quality and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan.

We are supporting the hospice sector with a £100 million capital funding boost for eligible adult and children’s hospices in England to ensure they have the best physical environment for care. Shooting Star Children’s Hospice and Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice, which serve children in the Surrey Heath constituency, are receiving £679,148 and £191,824 respectively from this funding.

We are also providing £26 million in revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. Shooting Star Children’s Hospice and Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice have received £1,879,000 and £300,000 respectively from this funding.

We are also committing £80 million for children’s and young people’s hospices over the next three financial years, giving them stability to plan ahead.