Palliative Care: Health Services

The Department recognises that there is currently variation in access to, experience of, and outcomes from, palliative care across different population groups. The Modern Service Framework (MSF) for Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care will take a systematic approach to identifying and addressing health inequalities in access to these services. Under the MSF, inequalities will be defined in terms of unwarranted variation in access, experience, and outcomes between different population groups, including underserved and disadvantaged communities.

The MSF will support systems to measure and reduce these inequalities through the development of a set of clinically led, evidence‑based metrics and outcome measures, including person‑centred outcome and experience measures. These metrics are currently in development and are being co‑designed with stakeholders, including people with lived experience and sector partners.

This will be underpinned by strengthened use of data and evidence, enabling integrated care boards (ICBs) to better understand local need, identify gaps in provision, and track progress in reducing inequalities over time. The MSF will also support a shift towards population‑based commissioning, requiring ICBs to undertake integrated needs assessments and ensure that services are planned and delivered with explicit regard to improving access and outcomes for underserved and disadvantaged groups.

Full details, including specific targets and associated metrics, will be set out in the final MSF, which is due to be published in Autumn 2026.