Overview

The Palliative Care Bill grants patients the right to choose their preferred location for receiving palliative care, including NHS hospitals, hospices, care homes, or their own homes. The bill aims to ensure that these choices are met wherever reasonably possible, while also considering the needs of other patients and outlining necessary financial arrangements and inter-agency cooperation.

Description

This bill establishes a patient's right to choose where they receive palliative care. Patients can request care at an NHS hospital, hospice, care home specializing in terminal illnesses, or their home (or the home of someone else they specify). Medical practitioners must submit these requests to a designated NHS body. This designated body must make reasonable efforts to fulfill the request, while also considering other patients' needs. Regulations will define palliative care standards for each location, responsibilities for care provision (including specialist services), and cooperation between NHS bodies, social services, local authorities, and voluntary organizations.

The Secretary of State will provide guidance on the financial implications of these choices, aiming to facilitate the necessary funding transfers between relevant organizations. The bill also defines key terms like "palliative care," "specialist in palliative care," "specialist in palliative medicine," and "terminal illness."

Government Spending

The bill mandates that any expenditure incurred by the Secretary of State, and any increase in sums payable under other acts due to this bill, will be paid from funds provided by Parliament. Exact figures are not specified within the bill itself.

Groups Affected

• Patients with terminal illnesses: They gain the right to choose their palliative care location, potentially improving quality of life.
• Medical practitioners: They have a responsibility to submit patient requests and work within the framework of the new law.
• NHS bodies, hospices, care homes, and voluntary organizations: They will be involved in providing palliative care and will need to cooperate and potentially reallocate resources.
• Local authorities and social services: They will have a role in the provision and funding of palliative care services.
• The Government: Responsible for issuing guidance on funding and overseeing implementation.

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