Sir Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will develop a plan to organise children’s palliative care services on a similar basis to the Operational Delivery Networks in use for neonatal care.  [90094]

[Due for Answer on 17 November]

ANSWER

The Minister of State for Care (Stephen Kinnock): The Department and NHS England are currently working at pace to develop plans on how best to improve the access, quality, and sustainability of all-age palliative care and end of life care in line with the 10-Year Health Plan. We will closely monitor the shift towards the strategic commissioning of palliative and end of life care services to ensure that services reduce variation in access and quality, although some variation may be appropriate to reflect both innovation and the needs of local populations.