29
Accepted in Part
We received submissions from three collaboratives: Lancashire & South Cumbria Hospices Together, Greater Manchester Hospices...
Conclusion
We received submissions from three collaboratives: Lancashire & South Cumbria Hospices Together, Greater Manchester Hospices Provider Collaborative, and Cheshire & Merseyside Hospice Provider Collaborative. They described how as collaboratives they can present a united voice to the ICB and are able to negotiate funding awards collectively, which in one case had resulted in ‘wins’ of a one-off boost in funding and an agreement to a longer-term review of palliative care services. They described how working in partnership enabled mutual learning, levelling up of standards, minimisation of unwarranted variation in care, avoidance of needless duplication of effort and smarter workforce planning. Collaboratives help individual hospices maintain strong clinical governance and operational resilience.65 61 Qq 47 and 69-70 62 Qq 5, 10-11, 18, 29, 34 and 37 63 Qq 16 and 23 64 C&AG’s Report, paras 3.10-3.11 65 Lancashire South Cumbria Hospices Together, Pendleside Hospice (AHE0008); Greater Manchester Hospices Provider Collaborative (AHE0009); East Cheshire Hospice, Cheshire & Merseyside Hospice Provider Collaborative (AHE0010) 17
Government Response Summary
Despite stating disagreement with the conclusion, the government recognises the important role of hospice collaboratives and is considering how to support and spread these models through the MSF. However, it explicitly rejects dictating the working practices or operating models of independent hospice organisations.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. The government recognises that hospice collaboratives can play an important role in improving sustainability, reducing duplication and strengthening the quality and consistency of services. There are already examples of this in practice, with hospices in several areas working in partnership to plan provision collectively, share financial risks and present a single voice to their ICB. Through the development of the Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care MSF, the department and NHS England are considering how best to support these models and spread good practice. As part of this work, officials are identifying examples where ICBs and hospices are collaboratively moving towards more strategic commissioning arrangements and will use the MSF to share these approaches nationally. However, it is not the place of the department or NHS England, to set out the working practices, or operating models, of independent organisations, such as hospices.
Source
Committee
Public Accounts Committee
Report
73rd Report - Financial sustainability of adult hospices in England
18 Mar 2026
HC 1236
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age
0.4 yrs
Report published
18 Mar 2026