The Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care

Every ICB should commission palliative and end of life care services that meet children and young people’s needs, aligning to the commitments within the ambitions.

The Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care: A national framework for local action 2021-2026 describes high quality palliative and end of life care for people of all ages, including children and young people. It sets out what is needed across the whole system for good palliative and end of life care.

It has system-wide consensus as it was co-developed by 34 organisations, including Together for Short Lives. There are a number of core components for ICBs to consider regarding their duty to commission palliative and end of life care services.

There are six ambitions, which, if realised, would mean that:

• every child or young person is seen as an individual
• every child or young person has fair access to care
• comfort and wellbeing is maximised
• care is coordinated
• staff are prepared to care
• each community is prepared to help

There are a number of core components for ICBs to consider regarding their duty to commission palliative and end of life care for children and young people which are set out in the Ambitions Framework and expanded on in NHSE’s Palliative and End of Life Care Statutory Guidance for Integrated Care Boards (ICBs).