6th Report - Palliative Care

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.