Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to ensure that clinically assisted hydration is available for dying patients in hospitals and care homes.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Guideline ‘Care of dying adults in the last days of life’, published in 2015, sets out recommendations for healthcare professionals caring for dying patients in all settings, including hospitals and care homes. This includes recommends that adults in the last days of life should have their hydration needs assessed daily and be provided with clinically assisted hydration, in line with their wishes and their safety and needs. The guidance is available at the following link:

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng31