73rd Report - Financial sustainability of adult hospices in England
Select Committee
Public Accounts Committee
HC 1236
18 March 2026
Recommendations
2 results
3
Accepted
NHS England has been too slow to enforce a commissioning approach for the provision of...
Recommendation
NHS England has been too slow to enforce a commissioning approach for the provision of palliative care that focuses on the quality of outcomes for patients. ICBs continue to fund hospices largely through grants and block contracts, despite the NHS …
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Government Response Summary
NHS England published statutory guidance for palliative care and end-of-life care, as well as service specifications. NHS England will work with some ICBs to develop new payment models to support neighbourhood services, including for the high- priority cohorts, including those at end of life. The government is developing a Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care MSF, through which we will closely monitor the shift towards strategic commissioning.
HM Treasury
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4
Accepted
Too many patients spend their last days receiving palliative care in acute hospitals, which does...
Recommendation
Too many patients spend their last days receiving palliative care in acute hospitals, which does not always achieve the best outcomes for patients nor represent value for money. Patients are frequently receiving palliative care and reaching the end of their …
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Government Response Summary
The government is developing a Palliative Care and End‑of‑Life Care MSF which will support the shift to strategic commissioning based on integrated needs assessments and will outline evidenced based interventions. It will also build on the recently published Neighbourhood Health Framework, which sets clear expectations for the improvement of care of palliative care and end-of-life care patients through Neighbourhood Health.
HM Treasury
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Conclusions (1) Observations and findings — click to expand
1
Conclusion
Accepted
On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department of Health and Social Care (the Department) and NHS England on the provision of palliative and end-of-life care, and the funding of England’s independent adult hospices.1 We also took evidence from Baroness …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee’s recommendation: service specifications for adults and children and young people, outlining expectations of what palliative care and end-of-life care services are commissioned.