A general debate on Hospice and Palliative Care is scheduled to take place in the House of Commons Chamber on Monday 13 January 2025. The subject for this debate was determined by the Backbench Business Committee.
General Debate on Hospice and Palliative Care (187 KB , PDF)
Health policy is devolved. This information applies to England. Information on hospice and palliative care in the rest of the UK can be found in sections three and four of the debate pack.
There are varying definitions of palliative care. The World Health Organisation defines it as an approach to improve the quality of life of patients and their families who are facing challenges associated with life-limiting illness, usually progressive. Palliative care can prevent and relieve suffering through identifying, assessing and treating pain and other problems whether physical, social or spiritual.
The 2022 briefing on Palliative and End of Life Care by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology explains that most people living with a life-limiting illness will require some form of palliative care.
Hospices are generally charitable organisations. They form part of palliative care in England and work with NHS palliative care teams. The services that hospices provide can vary depending on the individual hospice. Services can include:
A government press release on investment into hospices published in December 2024 says there are around 170 adult hospices and around 40 children and young people’s hospices in England, with some hospices providing care to both.
Section 21 of the Health and Care Act 2022 introduced a statutory requirement for integrated care boards (ICBs) in England to commission services to provide palliative care (alongside other healthcare services) to meet the needs of their local population. ICBs receive a general funding allocation from NHS England to deliver these services.
Hospices receive a mixture of charitable funding and some statutory funding for providing NHS services.
This Library debate pack published in October 2024 contains further details on funding for children’s hospices.
NHS England has published statutory guidance for ICBs on palliative and end of life care. This guidance points to two existing frameworks to guide palliative care delivery:
In December 2024, the government announced new investment into hospices. This includes £100 capital investment to improve buildings, equipment, accommodation and digital upgrades. A further £26 million revenue funding for children and young people’s hospices will be provided in 2025/26.
At the start of December 2024, it was announced in the press that Rachael Maskell MP would lead a commission on palliative care to help improve end-of-life care.
An article by the charity Together for Short Lives says the following regarding the aim of the commission:
By bringing together voices from across the sector, the Commission aims to develop actionable solutions to ensure every child and family can access the care and support they need, no matter where they live.
An article in the Guardian in December 2024 suggested the commission is backed by more than 20 health and social care organisations and will take evidence on failures and improvements to end-of-life care. It also said Lord Darzi (who led the government commissioned independent investigation of the NHS in summer 2024) will sit on the commission. The article said the commission will start taking evidence in January.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Hospice and End of Life Care published a report on Government funding for hospices (pdf) in January 2024.
There has been various stakeholder commentary around the accessibility of palliative care. See the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology’s report on palliative and end of life care.
General Debate on Hospice and Palliative Care (187 KB , PDF)
A debate has been scheduled in Westminster Hall for 3pm on 23 January on innovation in the field of rare retinal disease. The subject for the debate has been chosen by the Backbench Business Committee, and the debate will be opened by Jim Shannon MP.
A Westminster Hall debate on the provision of auditory verbal therapy is scheduled for Tuesday 21 January 2025 at 9:30am. The debate will be led by Mrs Sharon Hodgson MP.
A debate has been scheduled in the Commons Chamber for 16 January on a motion on the performance of the Medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency. The subject for the debate has been chosen by the Backbench Business Committee, and the debate will be opened by Esther McVey MP.
