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, as well as their loved ones and those who care for them.
Every day, we see the difference that compassionate, specialist palliative and end of life care can make at some of life's most difficult moments.
The parliamentary debate on assisted dying has brought renewed national attention to how we care for people at the end of life. Following today's vote against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, discussions about assisted dying are likely to continue both nationally and within local communities.
Saint Francis Hospice does not advocate either for or against assisted dying. We recognise that there are strongly held and deeply personal views on all sides of this debate, including among the communities we serve, our staff, volunteers, supporters and policymakers.
While we do not advocate either for or against assisted dying, we are clear that everyone should have access to outstanding palliative and end of life care. Whatever the future of the assisted dying debate, we believe nobody should face the end of life without the care, support and dignity they need.
Grazina Berry, Chief Executive of Saint Francis Hospice, said:
"Today's vote does not change the urgent need to improve access to high-quality palliative and end of life care. At Saint Francis Hospice, our focus remains on ensuring people and their loved ones receive compassionate, expert care when they need it most.
"Every day, we see the difference hospice care makes. Yet the future of many hospices remains uncertain because the current funding model is not sustainable. At Saint Francis Hospice, just 32% of the funding needed to provide our services comes from the NHS, with the majority relying on the generosity of our community.
"Regardless of people's views on assisted dying, there should be broad agreement that everyone deserves access to high-quality palliative and end of life care. We need a fair and sustainable funding settlement that enables hospices to meet growing demand, tackle inequalities in access to care, and ensure people can receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time."
Saint Francis Hospice will continue to advocate for increased, equitable and sustainable funding for palliative and end of life care, while working to ensure everyone can access excellent care regardless of where they live or their personal circumstances. We are committed to addressing health inequalities that prevent some people from receiving the support they need at the end of life and to supporting informed conversations about death, dying and bereavement.
Across the hospice sector, rising demand, workforce challenges and financial pressures are creating significant uncertainty about the future of services. Hospices are increasingly having to make difficult decisions about how care is delivered, despite growing need within their communities. We believe everyone should be able to access high-quality palliative and end of life care when and where they need it.
We are therefore backing calls from across the hospice sector for a fair and sustainable funding settlement that secures the future of hospice care and ensures everyone can access high-quality palliative and end of life care when and where they need it.
Whatever people's views on assisted dying, there should be broad agreement that nobody should experience avoidable pain, distress or uncertainty because the care they need is unavailable.
Saint Francis Hospice remains focused on ensuring people with palliative and end of life care needs receive the care and support they need, where they need it and when they need it. We will continue to advocate for greater investment in hospice and palliative care, so that everyone can access high-quality support at the end of life, regardless of the wider political debate.
