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 potential impact of mid-year efficiency requirements as set out by NHS partners on the sustainability of hospice services.

Palliative care services are included in the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission. This promotes a more consistent national approach and supports commissioners in prioritising palliative and end of life care. While no specific assessment has been made at the national level, ICBs are responsible for the commissioning of palliative and end of life care services, to meet the needs of their local populations, which includes consideration of the potential impact of any efficiency requirements on the provision of services to patients.

To support ICBs in this duty, NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications.