A Bill to place a duty on the Secretary of State to ensure the availability of hospice services for all people at the end of life; to require the Secretary of State to report annually to Parliament on the adequacy of funding for children’s and adult hospice services, including an assessment of whether any funding increases are necessary to maintain such services; to require the Secretary of State to publish a five year plan for hospice funding; to make provision about the availability of specialist palliative care in emergency care services in hospitals; to make provision about supporting patients receiving palliative care in the community in certain circumstances; to require the Secretary of State to prepare and publish a workforce plan for hospice services; to require palliative care advice to be available through non-emergency NHS advice services; and for connected purposes.
House of Commons
Alison BennettLiberal Democrat
5 May 2026
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
The Hospices and Palliative Care Bill would require the government to ensure hospice services are available to everyone at the end of life. It would require annual reporting on funding for children’s and adults’ hospice services, including whether more funds are needed, and it would require a five-year funding plan. It would also strengthen palliative care in hospitals, in the community, and via NHS guidance and a dedicated workforce plan.
The bill is currently at the 2nd reading in the House of Commons; if it progresses, it would move on to committee scrutiny and later stages in Parliament before potentially becoming law.
Generated 21 February 2026
14 Oct 2025
The 2024-2026 session of Parliament has come to an end so the House of Commons is now prorogued until the next session begins on 13 May 2026. Prorogation is the formal end to the parliamentary year.
This Bill will therefore make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
