My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health (Alan Johnson) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

Today the Government have published the End of Life Care Strategy. This is the first time this country will have a long-term, comprehensive strategy for the care of adults at the end of their life. The strategy builds on the progress made over recent years and sets out a range of recommendations to deliver improvements in end-of-life care. Its aim is to deliver increased choice to all adult patients, regardless of their condition, about where they live and die and to improve care given in all settings, to patients, carers and families.

The strategy sets out how the manifesto commitment to double investment in palliative care will be met and how choice at the end of life will be improved. It sets out the responsibilities of commissioners of end-of-life care services and of all involved in the delivery of care. It complements and supports the visions for end-of-life care developed by strategic health authorities as part of the NHS next stage review.

The strategy has been placed in the Library and copies are available for honourable Members in the Vote Office.