Palliative Care

Health and Social Care Committee Open Non-inquiry session
Opened: 5 Mar 2025 Parliament page
The Health and Social Care Committee has established and commissioned a politically impartial panel of experts to conduct an evaluation – independently of the Committee – of palliative care in England . The Expert Panel will produce a report after each evaluation which will be sent to the Committee to … Read more
13 Recommendations
9 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
2 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 5 events
19 Jun
2026
Report published
24 Mar
2026
Report published
4 Feb
2026
Correspondence
7 Jan
2026
Oral evidence
14 Jan
2025
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
7 Jan 2026
View on parliament.uk
Oral Evidence
Dr Amanda Doyle OBE · NHS England Dr Edward Scully · Department of Health and Social Care Dr Sarah Mitchell · NHS England Stephen Kinnock MP · Department of Health and Social Care
Title HC No. Published Items Response
6th Report - Palliative Care HC 1763 24 Mar 2026 22 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
10 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Accepted
6th Report - Palliative Care
We were highly concerned by the findings of the Expert Panel’s report, which revealed a...
We were highly concerned by the findings of the Expert Panel’s report, which revealed a sector in need of urgent support across all settings, underserving individuals from already vulnerable patient groups. The end of life system is fragmented, difficult to … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the concerns, stating it will develop accountability arrangements with the National Quality Board, refresh statutory guidance and service specifications later this year, and expect ICBs to complete integrated needs assessments to address the issues.
Department of Health and Social Care
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2 Conclusion Accepted
6th Report - Palliative Care
We welcome the Government’s plans to introduce a Modern Service Framework to set national standards...
We welcome the Government’s plans to introduce a Modern Service Framework to set national standards for palliative and end of life care services, and the Department’s commitment to co-produce this work alongside key stakeholders. However, we approach this with a … Read more
Government Response
The government recognises variable access to palliative care for children and young people and states the MSF will provide a framework for improvement with specific metrics. They will refresh statutory guidance and service specifications later this year to support ICB commissioning, and NHS England published guidance for ICBs in April 2026.
Department of Health and Social Care
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11 Conclusion Accepted
6th Report - Palliative Care
National palliative and end of life care data provide valuable insight into patterns of healthcare...
National palliative and end of life care data provide valuable insight into patterns of healthcare use and location of death, however the evidence presented demonstrates substantial gaps in local data collection and utilisation. Without consistent, granular and timely data, ICBs … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the importance of data, noting NHS England is strengthening expectations and providing tools. From April 2026, ICBs are expected to use comprehensive data for commissioning, and the MSF will set clearer expectations for data use and accountability.
Department of Health and Social Care
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12 Recommendation Accepted
6th Report - Palliative Care
We urge the department to mandate ICBs to maintain a fully populated palliative and end...
We urge the department to mandate ICBs to maintain a fully populated palliative and end of life care dashboard that is actively used for commissioning, service planning, quality improvement, and inequality monitoring across their local system. (Recommendation, Paragraph 52) Read more
Government Response
The government agrees and states that from April 2026, ICBs are expected to use comprehensive data and a palliative and end-of-life care dashboard for commissioning, service planning, and monitoring, with a goal to embed its active use.
Department of Health and Social Care
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13 Conclusion Accepted
6th Report - Palliative Care
Poor data sharing and lack of integration across NHS, social care, voluntary and private providers...
Poor data sharing and lack of integration across NHS, social care, voluntary and private providers creates confusion, delays and gaps in continuity for people at the end of life, frequently placing the burden of coordination care on patients and carers … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the importance of integrated palliative care and outlines plans for a Single Patient Record to bring together patient information across health and social care. They will introduce legislation to enable all providers, including private and voluntary sectors, to contribute to and access this record to facilitate more seamless care.
Department of Health and Social Care
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14 Recommendation Accepted
6th Report - Palliative Care
If the Government intends for the introduction of the Single Patient Record to address concerns...
If the Government intends for the introduction of the Single Patient Record to address concerns about a lack of service integration for palliative and end of life care, then this record must be available to all providers—including social care, the … Read more
Government Response
The government accepts the recommendation and will bring forward legislation to enable all health and social care providers, including private and voluntary sectors, to contribute to and access the Single Patient Record as the program develops.
Department of Health and Social Care
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15 Conclusion Accepted
6th Report - Palliative Care
Generalist staff, who provide most end of life care, often lack the skills, confidence and...
Generalist staff, who provide most end of life care, often lack the skills, confidence and specialist support required to deliver high-quality, person-centred care. Despite existing initiatives, a clearer, system-wide approach to upskilling the generalist workforce is urgently needed. (Conclusion, Paragraph … Read more
Government Response
The government is committed to training staff, noting an existing career pathway and core capabilities framework developed by NHS England, and is working to commission QiSS modules with funding and places planned for March 2027/28 to upskill the generalist workforce.
Department of Health and Social Care
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20 Recommendation Accepted
6th Report - Palliative Care
The Government must hold ICBs to account for delivering bereavement services.
The Government must hold ICBs to account for delivering bereavement services. This does not need to wait for the forthcoming Modern Service Framework as there are already clearly defined expectations for what ICBs should deliver in this area. In its … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees in principle on the importance of robust bereavement services and states that oversight mechanisms are already in place to hold ICBs accountable, but there are currently no plans to further monitor current delivery beyond existing arrangements.
Department of Health and Social Care
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21 Recommendation Accepted
6th Report - Palliative Care
Hospices form an integral part of palliative and end of life care provision at home...
Hospices form an integral part of palliative and end of life care provision at home and in the community and we welcome the fact that the Government intends for them to play a bigger role as part of its shift … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees hospices are vital and will use the MSF to support a move towards sustainable and predictable funding models for them. ICBs are asked to transition to sustainable contracting of hospice services, including moving away from short-term grant funding for adult hospices by 2027/28, with NHS England providing support and refreshed guidance.
Department of Health and Social Care
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22 Recommendation Accepted
6th Report - Palliative Care
We recommend that the Government moves towards sustainable and predictable models of funding for hospices,...
We recommend that the Government moves towards sustainable and predictable models of funding for hospices, financing their running as well as investment costs, which reflects the increasingly central role they will play in delivering end of life care. This funding … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees to move towards sustainable and predictable funding models for hospices, using the MSF to support ICBs in reviewing commissioning and contracting. ICBs are asked to move to sustainable contracting, with a shift away from short-term grant funding for adult hospices by 2027/28, supported by refreshed statutory guidance later this year.
Department of Health and Social Care
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Government Response AI assessment · 22 of 13 classified
Accepted 10
Accepted in Part 3
Acknowledged 1
Not Addressed 7
Rejected 1
Total 13 recs + 9 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
4 Feb 2026 Correspondence from Minister Kinnock - Follow up on 7 January session
Parliament page
14 Jan 2025 Correspondence from the Chair to the SoS relating to palliative care
Parliament page