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Physicians

Healthcare Professionals Raise Concerns Over Palliative Care and Assisted Dying Bill

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Healthcare professionals across Yorkshire have come together to express concerns over the provision of palliative care and the proposed Assisted Dying Bill. Despite their differing opinions on the principle of assisted dying, the doctors unanimously agreed that the bill would result in some people choosing an assisted death without guaranteed access to high-quality palliative care. They cited examples of hospices and palliative care services facing significant challenges due to lack of funding, with some services being forced to reduce their patient numbers.

Key Takeaways:

  • 19 employees were made redundant at the Kirkwood Hospice in Huddersfield, reducing the number of patients they can care for annually from 2,100 to 1,300.
  • The funding percentage for St Michael's Hospice in North Yorkshire dropped from 35-40% to 28% over the past five years, with service reductions being "highly likely".
  • The financial situation at St Luke's Hospice, Sheffield is described as "significantly challenging".
  • Healthcare professionals fear that a change in the law would mean investment in assisted death, while palliative care services struggle to secure adequate funding.
  • 87 MPs, including Spen Valley MP Kim Leadbeater, debated the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which would allow terminally-ill people to seek an assisted death with two doctor approval and an expert panel.
  • The doctors called on MPs to address the inequalities in palliative care provision in their constituencies and invest in improving services.
  • MPs are expected to take a final vote on the bill on 20 June.

Statistics:

  • The number of patients the Kirkwood Hospice can afford to care for annually decreased from 2,100 to 1,300 due to redundancies.
  • The funding percentage for St Michael's Hospice in North Yorkshire dropped from 35% to 28% over the past five years.
  • The number of MPs debating the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is 87.
  • The final vote on the bill is expected to be taken on 20 June.

Sources:

  • "MPs in Yorkshire are being urged to reject Assisted Dying Bill over concerns about palliative care". The Yorkshire Post, [No publication date].
  • "Campaigners gather in Parliament Square as Labour MP Kim Leadbeater's Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill continues second day of report stage". PA Wire [No publication date].

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