Hospices (Hansard, 16 July 2002)

§ 19. Mr. Hoyle
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on funding for hospices in Lancashire. [67282]

§ Ms Blears
During 2001–02, primary care trusts in Lancashire provided a total of £2.5 million to hospices in their respective areas. These included: Trinity Hospice in Fylde; St. John's Hospice in Lancaster; St. Catherine's Hospice in Preston; Derian House Hospice in Chorley; Burnley and Pendle Hospice; Rossendale Hospice; Springhill Hospice in Rochdale; East Lancashire Hospice; St. Joseph's Hospice, Jospice International; and Queenscourt Hospice.

§ 23. Mr. Beith
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his oral answer of 18 June 2002,Official Report, column 140W, on hospices, what evidence he used to base his estimate of the need for funds for palliative care in hospices. [67286]

§ Ms Blears
It is for the national health service locally to make arrangements for financial support for hospices based on the agreed strategic plans for palliative care provision within each cancer network's service delivery plan.
The National Council for Hospices and Specialist Palliative Care Services undertake an annual survey on investment in palliative care. They estimate the total expenditure on adult palliative care services to be around £300 million of which around £170 million is provided by the voluntary sector and £130 million by the NHS. The Government have pledged in the NHS Cancer Plan that funding for specialist palliative care services, including hospices, will increase by £50 million by 2004.