§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue guidelines on the payment arrangements for hospice care to health authorities and the social services departments of councils; what representations he has received in relation to the appropriate source of funding for hospice care; what provision he intends to make in relation to the means-testing of hospice care; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RedwoodGuidance will be included in a forthcoming Welsh health circular, notifying health authorities of their additional allocations for support of the voluntary hospice movement.
My Department has received representations on funding for hospice care from Marie Curie Cancer Care and the George Thomas Centre for Hospice Care.
Where palliative care during terminal illness is an-anged by the NHS, whether it is at home or as a hospice resident, there are of course no charges except where specifically allowed by statute—for example, prescription charges. Where, however, some support is provided by a social services authority, the usual rules for means-testing apply.