Following the vote on the Assisted Dying Bill in Parliament on 29th November 2024, and its progression to become law, there will be considerable interest in the impact on the end of life care services provided by Phyllis Tuckwell.
It is not our role to either support or oppose a change in the law on assisted dying, rather to ensure we offer the highest quality specialist palliative and end of life care, ensuring that patients, families and carers receive the support they need, within the scope of current UK law.
We focus on improving the wellbeing and quality of life for patients and families living with an advanced or terminal illness, while offering compassionate, dignified care at the end of life and then continue support for families and carers into bereavement.
We recognise that the views of staff, volunteers and trustees within Phyllis Tuckwell reflect the full spectrum of views on assisted dying that exist in society and recognise everyone’s right to their own opinion about it, but want to reassure our community that individual views will not affect access to our services, which remain available (subject to appropriate referral and resources) to anyone who needs it.
We will engage in discussions, as appropriate, relating to a change in the law relating to assisted dying in the UK, and the impact of this on colleagues who work at Phyllis Tuckwell (in clinical and non-clinical roles); discussions around individual’s conscientious objection or refusal to participate; the potential financial impacts on hospices; and the broad lack of public awareness that already exists around end of life care and choices.
An important issue highlighted during the debate was to ensure that hospice and end of life services are properly funded, so we will continue our negotiations with the NHS to ensure high quality palliative and end of life care is available to all who need it in our community.