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Hospices

Answer

NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications to support integrated care boards (ICBs) in commissioning palliative care and end-of-life care services to meet the needs of their local populations. We will be refreshing the statutory guidance and service specifications later this year.

As set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 4 June 2026, the Modern Service Framework (MSF) is a clinically-led, evidence-based framework to support sustained improvement in outcomes for patients and carers, including by systematically identifying, measuring, and reducing health inequalities, and by reducing unwarranted variation in access, experience, and outcomes.

The MSF will further support the systems by embedding palliative care and end-of-life care within a strategic commissioning model that is centred on clear and transparent contractual arrangements for commissioned palliative care activity across all providers, including hospices, to meet population health needs.

The MSF interim update sets out the direction of travel, including a shift towards more strategic commissioning and clear and transparent contractual arrangements for palliative care services, including hospices. NHS England has already written to the ICBs setting out initial actions they need to take to support this transition, including undertaking integrated needs assessments and moving towards sustainable contracting of hospice services. Initially, this will involve the move away from short-term grant funding for adult hospice services from 2027/28. NHS England’s letter to the ICBs is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/strategic-commissioning-hospice-services-update-modern-service-framework-palliative-care-end-of-life-care/

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

11853

Session

2026-27

Grouped for answer

Yes

Subjects

Contracts Hospices Standards

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk