Accept The Government recognises the significance of bereavement support for families and friends following the loss of a loved one and agrees in principle with the recommendation, recognising the importance of robust bereavement services. Oversight mechanisms are already in place to ensure ICBs are held to account for their delivery of these vital services. Bereavement services are commissioned locally, in accordance with the needs of the local population. ICBs are responsible for ensuring sufficient, high-quality, and accessible bereavement support for their local population. This obligation is underpinned by the “Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care” framework and reinforced by NHS England’s statutory guidance, which sets out clear expectations for ICBs to commission palliative care services, including adequate provision for bereavement support. The Minister of State for Care has further outlined the Government’s expectation that the requirements detailed in the NHS’s statutory guidance should be incorporated into local strategies, reinforcing the obligation for ICBs to prioritise bereavement care. NHS England has statutory responsibilities to oversee providers and ICBs and can take action where there is an actual or perceived breach of duties. Oversight for ICBs is primarily delivered through regional teams under the NHS Oversight Framework, which considers: • Performance against agreed oversight metrics • Judgements of organisational capability. • Other relevant intelligence (e.g. Care Quality Commission reports, partner escalations, and complaints). NHS England’s oversight relationship with each ICB, including in regard to the application of intervention activity, is based on the breadth and depth of challenge that exists and is routinely reviewed to ensure it remains appropriate. Where there are concerns regarding the quality of care this can be proactively escalated and addressed in line with the existing published National Quality Board guidance on quality risk response and escalation. Additionally, the MSF presents the opportunity to reinforce the need to commission and provide pre- and post- bereavement care, but there are currently no plans to further monitor current delivery of bereavement services outside of current ICB oversight arrangements set out above. The MSF will also consider the issues of emotional and practical support. We have been engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, representing over 70 organisations across the health and care ecosystem. The National Bereavement Alliance is one of the key stakeholders engaging with officials on the MSF development.