Written question asked by James Paice (Conservative) on Monday, 21 November 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 November 2005. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Monday, 23 January 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Children's Hospices

Question: (2) what assessment she has made of the funding of children's hospices,

Answer: [holding answer 24 November 2005]: In our guide ““Commissioning Children's and Young People's Palliative Care Services””, launched on 29 November 2005, we give commissioners important advice about the key aspects of children's palliative care which will improve the quality of commissioning and provision of services. This practical guide will stimulate improvements in commissioning and promote quality care for children, young people and their families in a range of settings, for example, palliative care at home, in hospital or in a hospice.Primary care trusts (PCTs) working with their local authority partners and stakeholders, remain best placed to decide the level and range of palliative care needed by the children and young people in their locality and are able to respond directly to their needs. We have extended our manifesto pledge to increase funding for end of life care to include care for children and young people. We will make further announcements on this funding as soon as we can.Information is not collected centrally on the amount of funding children's hospices receive from PCTs.

Secondary information