Financial sustainability of adult hospices in England scrutinised by PAC
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) will hold a scrutiny session on the financial sustainability of adult hospices in England.
Meeting details
As England’s population grows older, demand for adult palliative and end-of-life care is projected to rise. In 2023-24, independent adult hospices could provide on average one inpatient bed per 5,675 people aged 65+ in England, varying by health board area between one bed per 2,900 people and one bed per 54,300 people.
Two panels will be held, the first with experts in the subject. Witnesses’ views are likely to be sought on the state of the sector, the current amount of unmet need, and how close government is to achieving its ambition for every person who needs it to receive high-quality, compassionate palliative and end-of-life care.
The PAC will then take evidence from senior officials at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England (NHSE). The second panel will likely explore how government will ensure sufficient provision of care. Long-term financial sustainability overall will also be scrutinised, in light of National Audit Office findings that in 2023-24, the independent adult hospice sector spent c.£78m more than its income, with nearly two-thirds of independent adult hospices recording deficits - by far the highest proportion over the preceding decade.