Assisted Dying Bill acting as catalyst for palliative care improvements, Minister confirms

The past weeks have shown a breadth of expertise and compassion across health, legal and regulatory sectors, with growing recognition that the law must change to better serve dying people and their families.

Stephen Kinnock MP, Minister of State at the Department of Health and Social Care, confirmed that the Bill’s passage has acted as a “catalyst for the work we’re doing in palliative and end-of-life care”, and announced that the Government will shortly publish a plan to strengthen services across the country. He also reaffirmed that assisted dying, if legalised, will be offered free at the point of use through the NHS, and that the Department is committed to delivering the will of Parliament. He told the Committee:

“I think the passage of this Bill through Parliament has served as a catalyst for the work that we’re doing in palliative and end-of-life care, and has helped to push it up the political agenda.”

Professor Sir Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer, cautioned against unnecessary bureaucracy, saying:

“I think that it is always tempting to try and deal with problems by layering layer upon layer of complex bureaucracy on top of one another. And I would hope that if this is passed, Parliament will resist that temptation. The best regulations are ones that are simple and are clear.”

Sarah Sackman MP, Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services, reaffirmed in last week’s session that if Parliament passes the Bill, the Government will deliver it, echoing previous evidence that departments are working together to ensure safe and workable implementation.

Across the final panels, senior legal figures gave some of the strongest endorsements yet. Sir Max Hill KC, former Director of Public Prosecutions, described the current law as “unsatisfactory”, adding: “Compassion has no place in the current law… There must be a change. This Bill represents it.”

Sir Nicholas Mostyn KC, former High Court Judge, agreed: “A vote against this Bill is a vote in favour of the existing law – and you could hardly make up a law as malign as the existing law.”

Despite the depth of professional testimony, terminally ill people – those most affected by the Bill – were not invited to give evidence to the select committee.

Sophie Blake, who lives with a terminal illness and attended last week’s sessions, said:

“This Bill bears our name, yet our voices remain unheard. Experts on law, medicine, and ethics are rightly being consulted – but not the people this is all about. We are the ones living with terminal illness, and we are the ones who know what it’s like to face these choices. As Peers come together again next week for the Committee of the Whole House, I hope they put dying people back at the centre of this debate – because this Bill must be shaped around our experiences.”

Paul Blomfield, Dignity in Dying Chair, said:

“After 130 hours of detailed scrutiny, it’s clear this Bill is both compassionate and carefully constructed. It’s encouraging that Ministers recognise its role as a catalyst for improving palliative and end-of-life care. As Peers return next week, we hope they’ll build on that momentum – keeping dying people’s voices, and their need for both care and choice, at the centre of the debate.”

*For more information and general media requests, please email Media & Campaigns Officer, Tom Steen at tom.steen@dignityindying.org.uk or call 07356135578*