To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to take additional steps to support (a) Halton Haven and (b) Good Shepard Hospice in Runcorn and Helsby constituency.
Answered on
8 January 2025
Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB), such as the Cheshire and Merseyside ICB, which covers the Runcorn and Helsby constituency, must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.
Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices like Halton Haven and the Good Shepard Hospice, also play in providing support to people at end of life and their loved ones.
On 19 December 2024, the Government announced the biggest investment in a generation for hospices in England, supporting the sector with a £100 million boost for adult and children’s hospices to ensure they have the best physical environment for care, and £26 million revenue funding to support children and young people’s hospices. We will set out the details of the funding allocation and dissemination in the coming weeks.