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Children’s Hospices

My hon. Friend has been a passionate advocate of children’s hospice services in this House for some time, and I commend him for his remarks. Let me cut immediately to what the Government should now do, because we can and must do more. At the heart of the concern of my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South is the way in which the local NHS works together to put in place services that make a difference to children’s lives. He says that those services must change, and I agree. I will shortly launch dedicated guidance for that purpose—work that will build on and realise the intentions expressed in the national service framework for children and young people, which is mandatory on the NHS. That guidance for commissioners of palliative care is in the final stages of development, and I will ensure that the comments made by hon. Members are brought to the attention of the officials who are drafting it, which will be beneficial. The guide will support health care organisations, local authorities and other partners, working together with them in children’s trusts to understand and develop children’s palliative care services and to apply the mandatory children’s national service framework in its delivery.