Assisted Dying

Hospice UK represents the community of more than 200 hospices across the UK. It’s not our role to either support or oppose a change in the law on assisted dying. Rather, our aim is to make sure the experience and expertise of our members inform this important national conversation.

We recognise that the views of staff, volunteers and trustees at the UK’s hospices will reflect the full spectrum of views on assisted dying that exist in society. We understand that people and organisations have strong opinions on this sensitive and emotive issue.

Whether or not assisted dying is introduced in the UK, everyone should be able to access high quality palliative and end of life care, no matter who they are, where they are or why they are ill.

Nobody should ever feel they have to make the choice to have an assisted death because of a real or imagined fear of not receiving the care and support they need.

We firmly believe that whatever decisions are made around assisted dying, there needs to be fair funding and equitable provision of palliative and end of life care across the UK. But for a number of reasons, notably a failure to fairly fund hospice care in line with population need, this is not currently the case.

We have consulted extensively with colleagues across the hospice sector to understand the questions and concerns that would be critical should a change in the law appear likely. These discussions will continue.

As well as making sure that properly funded, high-quality palliative and end of life care is available to all who need it, a number of other key areas of concern will be important in ongoing debates. 

These include questions around eligibility; the effects on colleagues who work in hospice, palliative and end of life care (in clinical and non clinical roles); 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.

Hospice UK will remain committed to ensuring that the voice of the hospice sector is heard as the debates across the UK progress.

Below is current information from the different parts of the UK where there are currently active discussions about the possibility of a change in the law.