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 improve children's palliative care services in Lincolnshire.

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 the Lincolnshire ICB, in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and a service specification for children and young people. The statutory guidance states that ICBs must work to ensure that there is sufficient provision of care services to meet the needs of their local populations.

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.

Whilst the majority of palliative care and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part charitable hospices play as well. This is why 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. St Andrew’s Hospice, which serves children in Lincolnshire, is receiving £370,356 from this funding.

We are also providing £26 million in revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. St Andrew’s Hospice is receiving £372,000 from this funding.

I am pleased to confirm the continuation of approximately £26 million, adjusted for inflation, for the next three financial years, from 2026/27 to 2028/29 inclusive, to be distributed again via ICBs. This amounts to approximately £80 million over the next three years.