§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has regarding access for cancer patients to hospices; and if he will list the towns that have hospices and the towns with populations over 100,000 that do not have one.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe available evidence suggests that the majority of people admitted to hospices have cancer. It is for health authorities to ensure that terminally ill people and their families have access to a comprehensive range of health services. Information on hospice provision is not available in the form requested, but I understand that the St. Christopher's hospice information service regularly publishes a directory of hospice services.