Covid-19 has affected health care systems globally with implications for policy, funding and care delivery. This policy event is an extension of the CovPall study to discuss how we can promote better commissioning for palliative care during and following the pandemic.

We are delighted to confirm presentations by Professor Irene Higginson (Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, King’s College London), Sue Bottomley (National Head for End of Life and Palliative Care in the NHS) and Dr Malti Varshney, (Associate Director, Clinical Networks and Senate Lead).

The presentations will cover topics including:

• The response of palliative care during Covid-19
• Reflections on palliative and end of life commissioning and clinical networks.

We are also pleased to bring together stakeholders to have a panel discussion on how better commissioning for palliative and end of life care could be achieved during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Our panellists include:

• Professor the Baroness Finlay of Llandaff (House of Lords)
• Professor Bee Wee (National Clinical Director for End of Life Care at NHS England and NHS Improvement)
• Sue Bottomley (National Head for End of Life and Palliative Care in the NHS)
• Dr Malti Varshney (Associate Director, Clinical Networks and Senate Lead)
• Jonathan Ellis (Director of Policy and Advocacy at Hospice UK)
• Kate Heaps (Chief Executive at Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice)
• Andy Fletcher (Chief Executive, Together for Short Lives)
• Rashmi Kumar (PPI member, Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation, King’s College London).

This event is a Michal Galazka Study Day, part of Cicely Saunders International’s Global Leadership Programme and named in honour of Michal Galazka, pioneer of international hospice education.