Thank you for contacting me about the amendments proposed by Marie Curie to the Health and Care Bill on palliative and end-of-life care services.
It is vital that every person can access high-quality care at the end of life, and this was reflected in the Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care that were published by the National Palliative and End-of-Life Care Partnership in May 2021.
These ambitions included ensuring care is coordinated and improving access to 24/7 expert palliative and end-of-life care services. The framework also included a goal to help people take control at the end of their life through personal budgets and other support.
While I am aware the amendments to the Health and Care Bill backed by Marie Curie did not pass, Clause 15 outlines the duties on Integrated Care Partnerships (ICPs) to arrange the provision of the care, treatment and aftercare of people facing illness, injury or disability in their local area.
As my colleague Lord Kamall (Minister for Technology and Innovation and Life Sciences) stated in the House of Lords on 7 December, “…integrated care boards will be responsible for commissioning palliative care services as part of a comprehensive healthcare service.”
The Clause also provides the power for ICPs to arrange for other services or facilities that are considered appropriate to improve the physical or mental health of patients under their care.
The Bill has now entered the House of Lords and I will continue to monitor its progress, including any further amendments that are tabled.