Written question asked by Patrick Hall (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 8 December 2005. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Thursday, 15 December 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Palliative Care

Question: (2) what assessment she has made of the likely impact of Payment by Results on statutory funding for services for palliative care commissioned from voluntary providers; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Work to develop healthcare resource groups for specialist palliative care, which will inform the implementation of Payment by Results, is ongoing. Part of this work will include consideration of the funding implications of introducing Payment by Results in specialist palliative care.Healthcare resource groups are not being developed for Hospice at Home services. However, consideration is being given to the development of healthcare resource groups for community care services other than in palliative care and once this work, together with consideration of the results of the ““Your Health, Your Care, Your Say”” consultation, is complete, we will be able to give this issue further consideration.

Secondary information