Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what (a) mechanisms exist and (b) steps he is taking to ensure that integrated care boards are accountable for their commissioning of children’s palliative care.

Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, including for children and young people, to meet the needs of their local populations. To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.

NHS England has a legal duty to annually assess the performance of each ICB in respect of each financial year, and to publish a summary of its findings. This assessment must include how well the ICB has discharged its functions.