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<p>Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for determining the level of National
Health Service-funded palliative and end of life care, including hospice care, locally,
and they are responsible for ensuring that the services they commission meet the needs
of their local population. As part of the Health and Care Act 2022, the Government
added palliative care services to the list of services an ICB must commission, which
will ensure a more consistent national approach, and support commissioners in prioritising
palliative and end of life care.</p><p>The majority of palliative and end of life
care is provided by NHS staff and services. However, we also recognise the vital part
that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, play in providing support
to people at end of life, and their families. Most hospices are charitable, independent
organisations which receive some statutory funding for providing NHS services. The
amount of funding hospices receive is dependent on many factors, including what other
statutory services are available within the ICB footprint. Charitable hospices provide
a range of services which go beyond that which statutory services are legally required
to provide. Consequently, the funding arrangements reflect this.</p><p>The Department,
alongside key partners, and NHS England will continue to engage with stakeholders,
including the voluntary sector and independent hospices on an ongoing basis, in order
to understand the issues they face, including that of future funding pressures. The
Department is in ongoing discussions with NHS England about oversight and accountability
of National Health Service palliative and end of life care commissioning.</p><p>The
Government recognises the difficult economic context that organisations such as hospices
face, which is why we made the decision to provide additional funding to help deliver
non-consolidated pay awards to eligible staff employed by non-NHS organisations, including
some hospices. Funding has been made available for over 27,000 staff in non-NHS organisations
to receive the two non-consolidated awards agreed as part of the Agenda for Change
pay deal. Eligible organisations will receive their funding as soon as practically
possible, following the receipt of their invoice.</p>
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