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Written question asked by Damien Egan (Labour) on Monday, 21 July 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 1 September 2025. It was answered by Stephen Kinnock (Labour) on Monday, 1 September 2025 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Palliative Care: Children

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that children nearing the end of life can access palliative care at home.

Answer

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. ICBs are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations.

To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.  The statutory guidance requires ICBs to work to ensure that there is sufficient provision of palliative and end of life care services to meet the needs of their local populations.

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. This funding will also help to develop and better outreach services to support people in their own homes when needed.

Additionally, we are providing £26 million of revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices for 2025/26. This is a continuation of the funding which until recently was known as the children and young people’s hospice grant.

I have tasked officials to look at how to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all- age palliative and end of life care, including services provided at, or closer to, home, in line with the 10-Year Health Plan. It is our intention to work together with stakeholders to ensure that everyone has access to the care they need, in the right place, at the right time, at the end of life.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
69695
Session
2024-26
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Written questions
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Palliative Care: Children
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Subjects
Children Palliative care
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk