§ 21. Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the provision of palliative care is a core service. [82637]
§ Ms BlearsThe principles of palliative care—holistic, patient-centred care— apply across all conditions and in all settings. Increasingly palliative care is being seen as an integral part of care and we are committed to delivering our pledge in the NHS Cancer Plan to increase support for specialist palliative care by £50 million by 2004.
§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how the extra money allocated to primary care trusts for palliative care will be ringfenced. [84095]
§ Ms BlearsMy right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health has made available an extra £10 million from central budgets for specialist palliative care for 2002–2003. This money has been allocated for primary care trusts (PCTs). It has been allocated to PCTs with clear instructions that it must be spent on specialist palliative care and that its use should be in line with local strategic plans and agreed by all relevant local partners.
To make sure this extra money is deployed appropriately, strategic health authorities have been asked to ensure joint National Health service and voluntary sector agreement to its use and to provide investment and out-turn reports showing how it has been spent.