Overview

The Access to Palliative Care Bill aims to ensure everyone in England with life-limiting illnesses has equal access to high-quality palliative care. This includes improving access to services, training healthcare professionals, and promoting research in the field.

Description

This bill mandates Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to arrange for comprehensive palliative care services. These services must include:

• Support for people with complex needs in various settings (homes, hospitals, hospices, care homes).
• Direct hospice admissions, including urgent cases.
• Support for other healthcare providers caring for palliative care patients.
• 24/7 availability of specialist palliative care and hospice services, including telephone advice.
• Sufficient specialist professionals and equipment.
• 24/7 access to essential medication for home-based patients.
• A 24/7 contact point for patients and their families.
• Systems for information sharing among providers with patient consent.

The bill also requires Health Education England to mandate training for healthcare professionals in pain control, communication, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, and supporting families and carers. It encourages research in palliative care and requires the Care Quality Commission to evaluate palliative care provision during inspections.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't specify the exact cost. Implementation will likely require increased funding for staffing, training, equipment, and service expansion across CCGs. The exact financial implications will depend on the existing provision within each CCG area and the level of service expansion required.

Groups Affected

• People with life-limiting illnesses: Will benefit from improved access to high-quality palliative care.
• Families and carers: Will receive better support and involvement in decision-making.
• Healthcare professionals: Will receive mandatory training and may experience increased workload.
• Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs): Will be responsible for implementing and funding the new services.
• Hospices and other providers: May experience increased demand for services and potential funding changes.
• Health Education England: Responsible for ensuring mandatory training for healthcare staff.
• Care Quality Commission (CQC): Will need to adapt inspection procedures to evaluate palliative care provision.

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