Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 16 July [HL8983] about the paybill of the Department for Health and Social Care, why they did not make the provision of high quality palliative care a major priority.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

As set out in the Government’s recently published 10-Year Health Plan, we are determined to shift more care out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting. Palliative care and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift and were highlighted in the Plan as being an integral part of neighbourhood teams.

Additionally, I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement (HLWS875) that was made to the House on 22 July 2025, which stated:

“It has been brought to my attention that a written answer given to Lord Scriven contained inaccurate information related to the work of the Department for Health and Social Care.

The reply to written Parliamentary Question HL8983, tabled by Lord Scriven on 30 June 2025, stated that “the Department’s staff numbers have needed to increase to ensure the right skills and capability to deliver several of the Government’s major priorities.” The answer then went on to list a number of areas which have required additional staff resource within the Department. The Assisted Dying Bill has required additional resource but should not have been referred to as a Government priority given the Government’s neutrality on the issue.

For clarity, the answer should read:

“The Department’s total paybill and staffing costs have not risen by £20 million since July 2024; rather, they have risen, but by £2.5 million in that time.

Since the General Election, the Department’s staff numbers have needed to increase to ensure the right skills and capability to deliver several of the Government’s major priorities. During this period, payroll costs have also increased because of annual pay increases.

Given the scale of the challenges facing the health and social care system, as part of the Spending Review, the Department is working on reducing its headcount down to pre-election levels during 2025/26. This is a key step towards a streamlined centre, to support continued prioritisation towards front-line services.”

I would like to apologise for any confusion.”

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost of ensuring that high-quality palliative care is available to everyone in England Wales who requires that care.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The funding and provision of palliative and end of life care in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Government.

Palliative care and end of life care are broad, holistic approaches provided through a range of professionals and providers, generalist and specialist across the National Health Service, social care and voluntary sector organisations. Therefore, the cost of provision is challenging to measure in its totality.

One of the three ‘shifts’ that the 10 Year Health Plan will deliver is around the Government’s determination to shift healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting. Palliative care and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift and were highlighted in the Plan as being an integral part of neighbourhood teams.

The Department and NHS England are currently looking at how to improve the access, quality and sustainability of all-age palliative and end of life care in line with the 10 Year Health Plan.

The Government and the NHS will closely monitor the shift towards strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services to help ensure that services remove variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that high quality palliative care is available to everyone in England and Wales who requires that care, and when they expect that care to be available.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The funding and provision of palliative and end of life care in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Government.

Palliative care and end of life care are broad, holistic approaches provided through a range of professionals and providers, generalist and specialist across the National Health Service, social care and voluntary sector organisations. Therefore, the cost of provision is challenging to measure in its totality.

One of the three ‘shifts’ that the 10 Year Health Plan will deliver is around the Government’s determination to shift healthcare out of hospitals and into the community, to ensure patients and their families receive personalised care in the most appropriate setting. Palliative care and end of life care services will have a big role to play in that shift and were highlighted in the Plan as being an integral part of neighbourhood teams.

The Department and NHS England are currently looking at how to improve the access, quality and sustainability of all-age palliative and end of life care in line with the 10 Year Health Plan.

The Government and the NHS will closely monitor the shift towards strategic commissioning of palliative care and end of life care services to help ensure that services remove variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.