15099 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health

15099 (2025). Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall to the Minister of Health: Are there any palliative care contracts that explicitly exclude services for children, and if so, what are the reasons for such exclusions?

Hon Simeon Brown: Access to paediatric palliative care is a key part of ensuring children and their parents can get the care they need at an incredibly distressing time for families. I am advised that there are contracts for palliative care services which are held by hospices that are exclusively for adult palliative care services as the majority of children requiring palliative care are under the care of Hospital and Specialist Services. I am further advised that two hospices have contracts that include provision for paediatric palliative care services.