Saint Francis Hospice Assisted Dying Position Statement
At Saint Francis Hospice, we recognise the profound challenges faced by people living with advanced and incurable illnesses, including loved ones and carers every day and our mission is to ensure everyone has the best care at the end of life.
We continue to remain neutral on the debate of assisted dying. But we also acknowledge the wide range of views on assisted dying, both within our community and across society. The recent support of Kim Leadbeater MP’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by MP’s in the House of Commons represents a significant societal shift, and we remain committed to contributing to this ongoing conversation.
We have consistently maintained a neutral stance on assisted dying. Our priority is to:
- Advocate for increased and equitable funding for palliative and end of life care, particularly given the NHS currently provides just 31% of the funding that we need to run Saint Francis Hospice.
- Highlight the urgent need to address health inequalities, ensuring everyone has access to excellent care at the end of life.
The parliamentary debate has underscored the vital role of hospices and the pressing need for significant investment in palliative care. This aligns with our belief that no one should be without the support they need at such a critical time in their lives.
The recent vote calls on policymakers to engage thoughtfully with the public and experts, particularly those with experience of health inequalities and end-of-life care. We support the call for a commission into end-of-life care to explore these issues further.
As one of the largest adult hospices in the UK, we are ready to share insights from our community, staff, volunteers, and individuals in our care. We urge MPs and policymakers of all views to work with us to ensure future legislation is informed, balanced, and compassionate.
This debate has sparked a necessary national conversation about death, dying, and what constitutes a good death, while also highlighting the chronic underfunding of hospice care. We welcome recognition of hospices' vital role and call on the Government to urgently address this funding crisis with both an emergency package and a sustainable long-term plan.
Saint Francis Hospice remains focused on ensuring people with palliative and end of life care needs get what they need, where they need it and when they need it.
