PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Palliative Care: Children and Young People (28 April 2020)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish guidance on palliative care for children and young people in community and hospice settings during the covid-19 outbreak.

Asked by:
Dr Caroline Johnson (Conservative)

Working with key stakeholders, NHS England and NHS Improvement have developed a standard operating procedure (SOP), for palliative care for children and young people in community and hospice settings during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is due to be published shortly.

The SOP is aimed at supporting staff who are providing care or supporting children and young people, and their families, who have palliative and/or end of life care needs in the community, including home and hospice care. Palliative care will include some children and young people who have life-limiting long-term conditions and complex health needs. It encourages all providers of children’s palliative care (statutory and voluntary sector) to work collaboratively and flexibly across health settings to support this group of children and young people and keep them safe during the pandemic.

Answered by:
Helen Whately (Conservative)
13 May 2020