Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed NHS pay increase on voluntary sector hospices.
The proposed Agenda for Change pay framework, which includes contract reform and pay awards over three years, is currently out to consultation with the National Health Service trades unions and the outcome will be known in June.
The Chancellor was explicit that additional funding was tied to extensive reforms to the terms and conditions of staff employed on the Agenda for Change contract.
We are considering the impact of the agreement on non-NHS organisations such as hospices that may be affected by the proposed deal however no decisions have been made.
Staff in hospices do a fantastic job in delivering world-class care. The Department remains fully committed to improving palliative and end of life care.