§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 21 March 2002,Official Report, column 536W, on hospices, what assessment he has made of the proportion of patients who died from cancer in hospital who could have received terminal palliative care in hospices had there been sufficient capacity in the last five years. [47131]
§ Yvette CooperNo such assessment has been made. Palliative care should involve a combination of services including hospital, hospice, community and day care. We know that, given the choice and the right circumstances, many people with cancer would prefer to die at home. Cancer networks have been asked to draw up service delivery plans on palliative care, including a review of the level of services offered in their area. These plans will aim to ensure that each network has a range of palliative care services available to suit the local population. They will be supported by the extra funding for palliative care pledged in the NHS Cancer Plan.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what contribution the Government makes to the independent hospice sector towards the cost of(a) employment of doctors and nurses and (b) drugs, provision of ambulances and other medical services. [48721]
§ Yvette CooperFunding for hospices is a matter for local decision, based on a strategic view of palliative care services. In the NHS Cancer Plan we pledged an additional £50 million per year nationally for specialist palliative care by 2004. We are monitoring progress in providing this extra investment.
§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what change there has been in state funding of independent charitable hospices in the last five years. [48723]
§ Yvette CooperThere are wide variations both in the range of funding from the national health service and in the provision of specialist palliative care services across the country. We are committed to improving palliative care. That is why we have pledged to make available an additional £50 million by 2004 for palliative care so that the NHS can make an adequate contribution to the costs hospices incur in providing agreed levels of service. The additional funding will mean that for the first time, NHS investment in specialist palliative care services as a whole will match that of the voluntary sector. We are monitoring progress in providing this increased investment.