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Palliative Care

Answer

It is widely recognised that reducing hospital admissions, and instead supporting patients in the community, is both more cost-effective, and, importantly, in line most with people’s preferences at the end of life.

Recently published research from the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s (NIHR) Policy Research Unit estimates that the total healthcare costs in the last year of life was, in 2024, approximately £24,000 per person in England. Acute hospital care alone accounted for nearly £19,000, representing nearly 80% of the total healthcare costs in the last year of life.

We recognise that there is currently a high number of hospital admissions and bed days of those in the last year of life, which creates added pressure on acute services and for most patients at the end of life, this would not be their preferred place of care or death. As set out in the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan, we are determined to shift more care out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting.

We are developing a Modern Service Framework (MSF) for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care for England. We recently published an interim update on the MSF in the form of a Written Ministerial Statement. This is available at the following link:

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2026-06-04/hcws88

The MSF will build on the ambitions set out in the Neighbourhood Health Framework.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

10925

Session

2026-27

Related items

Modern Service Framework for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care: interim update
Thursday, 4 June 2026
Written statements
House of Commons

Subjects

Hospitals Expenditure Palliative care

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk