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PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Palliative Care: Disadvantaged (7 November 2023)

Question Asked

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to ensure equitable access to palliative and end of life care services.

Asked by:
Navendu Mishra (Labour)

Answer

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning palliative and end of life services that meet the needs of their population according to local prioritisation and funding. As part of the Health and Care Act 2022, palliative care services were specifically added to the list of services an ICB must commission. This will ensure a more consistent national approach and support commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care.

NHS England has published statutory guidance for ICBs to support their commissioning of high-quality, accessible palliative and end of life care for all. The guidance addresses health inequalities in palliative and end of life care by improving equity of access and reducing inequity in outcomes and experience. This includes the completion of an Equalities and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment and action plan.


Answered by:
Helen Whately (Conservative)
16 November 2023

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