Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: A statement from Chief Executive Emma Johnson

“As the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill falls today, we echo Hospice UK in recognising this as a pivotal moment for end-of-life care. With nearly one in three people dying without the care and support they need, the urgency for action has never been clearer. One thing we must not lose sight of, in the context of the polarising views on the proposed Bill and the opinions on both sides of the debate about the moral and ethical issues associated with a right to choose an assisted death, is that the current situation in relation to care of people who are dying is not acceptable. People are dying in pain, without access to care, and at times, in hospital corridors and busy acute hospital wards. This is not how we should care for our most vulnerable people and our patients deserve better.

“While the Bill will not progress, there is clear consensus that support for palliative and end-of-life care must improve, and there is a need for urgent change. This includes (but is not limited to) a more sustainable way of funding hospices across England. There is an opportunity for government to turn that consensus into action, ensuring services are properly resourced and able to meet growing demand. Hospices provide vital support for patients and families, but also contribute to the wider system by offering care, support, education and advice. They are a crucial element of the left shift into community and the prevention agenda that we see in the NHS 10-Year Health Plan, but they need to be funded fairly and sustainably. Nobody should feel that they need to chose an assisted death, or support a change in the law because they are unable to access the care they need at the end of life.

“At St Leonard’s, we see every day how compassionate, high-quality care can make a real difference to patients and their families. We must now work together to ensure that everyone, wherever they live, can access the support they need at the end of life. This is the shared ground that supporters and opponents of the Bill must build upon to make real change for patients in the future. I echo words of colleagues across the sector in asking that we keep this momentum, keep the debate and commitment to making improvements alive and translate them into something positive for patients.”