Recommendation 23

NHS England emphasised that it is aware that every hospice provider is worried about financial sustainability, but that it is unaware of any hospices facing immediate closure.50 It told us it expects ICBs to undertake quality impact assessments if a hospice signals reductions in service that would have a disproportionate impact or an impact the NHS could not cope with.51 Following our evidence session in January, NHS England wrote to tell us that it had written to all ICBs requesting immediate, up-to-date assessments of the financial stability of hospices within their footprints and the action being taken to mitigate risks.52 The Department highlighted the 43 Qq 5, 12, 16 and 27 44 Q 34 45 C&AG’s report, paras 11 and 24 46 Q 13 47 Hospice UK (AHE0017) 48 Rotherham Hospice (AHE0002); Mary Ann Evans Hospice (AHE0005); Marie Curie (AHE0018) 49 Q 75 50 Qq 71-72 51 Qq 52, 57 and 75 52 Q 75; Letter from NHS England, 16 January 2026 15 £125 million capital funding that had recently been provided to the sector, demonstrating, it said, ministerial commitment to independent hospices. However, Hospice UK told us that while the capital funding is welcome it is one-off funding that will not address the shortfalls in funding for service delivery.53