Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, shares his thoughts ahead of Friday’s terminally ill adults (end of life) bill debate.
He said: “I am sure that Friday’s debate will again see MPs both for and against this Bill agree that palliative care must be improved, including fixing hospice funding.
“But the reality is that over the nearly two years since this Bill was first debated by MPs, the opposite has happened.
“Nationwide, hospice services are shrinking, beds are closing and community hospice visits are falling. It’s now harder than ever before for people to get the end of the life care they need.
“At a time when demand for hospice care is rising, patients face dying in a hospital bed, or worse still on a corridor in avoidable pain and distress.
“Hospice UK considers it unsanctionable that someone might even consider an assisted death in the future because they fear they won’t get the pain relief or other care they and their loved ones need at the end of their lives.
“Real choice at the end of life means that everyone can access high quality and compassionate care to support a peaceful and dignified death.
“The Prime Minister has confirmed palliative care funding must be fixed before any debate around assisted dying. We warmly welcome his commitment.
“Regardless of which way the vote goes on Friday, we must seize this moment to improve access to high-quality palliative and end of life care and ensure hospice services are there for all that need it, now and forever.”
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