All Main Political Parties Pledge Support for Palliative Care

In January, The National Council for Palliative Care published its Palliative Care Manifesto for the 2005 general election. The manifesto was based on 3 principles and contained 4 pledges. It received enthusiastic welcome and support across the voluntary sector. It was endorsed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Hospice and Palliative Care, and back-benchers from all the political parties signed an Early Day Motion based on the manifesto’s principles.

The National Council wrote to all the party leaderships inviting them to endorse the manifesto. We have now received responses to the manifesto from the main political parties, all pledging their commitment to the further development of palliative care.

Eve Richardson, Chief Executive of The National Council, said:

“We are delighted that there is now a cross-party consensus that recognises the importance of good quality palliative care, and pledges new resources to develop it further. The National Council is committed to ensuring that all patients get the palliative care that they need, and we look forward to working with all interested parties to bring that about.”

The National Council will actively pursue implementation of the manifesto with the incoming government after May 5.

Please contact The National Council’s Communications Officer, Victoria Kington, at v.kington@ncpc.org.uk if you would like further information.

Palliative Care Manifesto 2005  (91KB)

Labour

Letter from Melanie Johnson, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health  (42KB)

Labour Party policy on palliative care  (57KB)

Conservatives

Letter from Andrew Lansley, Shadow Secretary of State for Health  (98KB)

Conservative Party policy on palliative care  (53KB)

Liberal Democrats

Letter from Paul Burstow, Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Health (26KB)