Hospice Funding

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 6:14 pm on 22 April 2024.

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Photo of Munira Wilson Munira Wilson Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Education) 6:14, 22 April 2024

I thank the hon. Lady for giving way and congratulate her on this important debate. On the point that Barry Gardiner made about children’s hospices, I have the fantastic Shooting Star children’s hospice in Hampton in my constituency, which serves a wide catchment area. The hon. Lady mentioned the statutory duty, introduced by the Government, on ICBs to commission and fund palliative care, but the problem is that there is such huge variability. Surrey Heartlands, which is one of the ICBs that Shooting Star serves, spends only a paltry £39 per child, even though the average should be about £151, and other ICBs will not even disclose the amount. Does she agree that we need multi-year contracts with ICBs to serve these hospices?