Government names fairer funding pilots for end-of-life care

The Department of Health has confirmed £1.8m of new Government funding is to be directed into seven pilot end-of-life care projects.

The pilots will be focused on achieving fairer funding, allowing families who require palliative services greater choice in how and where that care is carried out.

Acknowledging that funding for palliative care varies greatly across NHS services in England, Health Secretary Andrew Lansley spoke at a Marie Curie event on the drive towards fairer funding, saying:

‘It is most important to us that both children and adults, their families and carers get the right care and support at the end of their lives. This includes being able to make choices about where they are cared for, including at the end of their life.

‘A fairer funding system will enable us to ensure that this support is available. It will ensure all qualified providers of end of life care, whether they be statutory, voluntary or independent, are fairly funded. The pilots will have an essential role in helping us in this work.’

The seven pilot sites have been named as:

NHS North Yorkshire and York

St Christopher’s Hospice, London

University of Sheffield

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

The Heart of Kent Hospice

Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust

While four sites have also been selected to pilot children’s palliative care services:

East of England Child Health and Well-being Team

West Midlands Paediatric Palliative Care Network

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Northwest Children and Young Peoples Palliative Care Network

Image: Health Secretary Andrew Lansley: courtesy of the Conservative Party