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Hospice campaigners are calling on MPs and peers today to back two private member’s bills to improve palliative care.

Help the Hospices said cross-bench peer Baroness Finlay’s Palliative Care Bill and Labour MP Jim Dobbin’s Provision of Palliative Care Bill would make such care free for people with terminal illness and also improve provision.

Both receive their second readings in parliament today.

Help the Hospices chief executive David Praill said: “We are greatly encouraged by these proposed bills, which raise awareness of the vital role of hospice care and have the potential to help safeguard its future.”

The group said hospices needed to raise £400m a year to keep afloat.