Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what specific support his Department provides to charities providing end of life care for children.

No recent assessment has been made as the majority of hospices are independent charities which receive some statutory funding from integrated care boards (ICBs). ICBs are responsible for commissioning appropriate palliative and end of life care (PEoLC) services for children based on the needs of the local population.

NHS England has committed to increase its investment in local children’s PEoLC services, including hospices. NHS England has matched the investment made by clinical commissioning groups for children’s PEoLC, providing more than £7 million since 2020/21. This is in addition to £21 million being invested through the Children’s Hospice Grant by March 2023, to provide care closer to home. NHS England is also reviewing current models of care, commissioning pathways and financial formulas to ensure the sector supports children, young people, their families and loved ones. We will continue to engage with the sector to understand the issues it faces.