Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England issue guidelines on when GPs should start discussions with their patients on end of life care; and whether (a) budgetary factors and (b) underlying health conditions are considered as part of the decision to begin those discussions.

Guidance on undertaking discussions with patients on end of life care is provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Identification of any person approaching the end of life and decisions on when to begin discussions on end of life care and support need to be considered on an individual basis.