A Bill to make provision for clinical commissioning groups to ensure that persons in their area have access to specialist and generalist palliative care and appropriate support services; and for connected purposes
House of Lords
9 October 2019
The Access to Palliative Care Bill would place duties on clinical commissioning groups to ensure that people living in their area can access palliative care services. It covers both specialist palliative care teams and generalist palliative care, along with related support services, with the aim of improving access and consistency of care across local areas.
The bill is at its second reading in the Lords, where the general principles are debated. If approved, it would move to committee stage in the Lords and, if successful, proceed to the House of Commons for consideration.
Generated 21 February 2026
Second reading - the general debate on all aspects of the Bill - took place on 14 June.
Members discussed a range of issues highlighted by the bill, including:
• training for palliative care specialists
• palliative care for babies, children and for those with learning disabilities
• the responsibility of Clinical Commissioning Groups to identify, fund support and provide services to those with palliative care needs.
The 2017-2019 session of Parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
