Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Second Report - Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide
Health and Social Care Committee
HC 321
Published 29 February 2024
Recommendations
6
Accepted
Require UK Government to prepare for legislative divergence on assisted dying in UK jurisdictions.
Recommendation
The UK Government must consider how to respond to another jurisdiction in the UK, or the Crown Dependencies, legislating to allow AD/AS, and how it may impact jurisdictions which do not allow it. Following the recommendation by the Jersey Citizens’ …
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Government Response Summary
The government confirms it will discuss with devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies the practical and constitutional implications for England and Wales should any assisted dying/suicide legislation be enacted elsewhere.
Department of Health and Social Care
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13
Accepted
Para 278
Ensure universal coverage of palliative and end of life care services, including hospice care at home.
Recommendation
The UK has long been a world leader in palliative and end of life care, but access to and provision of palliative and end of life care is patchy. The Government must ensure universal coverage of palliative and end of …
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Government Response Summary
The government highlights that palliative care is now a mandated commission for ICBs, supported by statutory guidance. NHS England is further ensuring consistency by including palliative care in performance discussions from April 2024 and developing an all-age palliative and end-of-life care dashboard.
Department of Health and Social Care
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14
Accepted
Para 279
Integrated Care Boards need better population data to understand and support service provision.
Recommendation
As identified in the report of the HSIB (now the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB)) on variations in palliative care services to adults, we agree that better data on the population within an ICB catchment area needs to be …
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Government Response Summary
The government states the NHS is already required to commission appropriate palliative and end-of-life care services. Palliative care services were added to the list of services an integrated care board (ICB) must commission, promoting a more consistent national approach and supporting commissioners in prioritising palliative and end-of-life care and that NHS England has published statutory guidance and service specifications to support ICBs in this duty, further work is ongoing including NHS England including palliative and end-of-life care in the list of topics for its regular performance discussions between national and regional leads, and NHS England commissioning the development of an all-age palliative and end of life care dashboard, which brings together relevant local data in one place.
Department of Health and Social Care
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19
Accepted
Para 307
Commission research into providing better mental health support and guidance for terminally ill people.
Recommendation
There is a pressing need to understand how to better provide mental health support, and guidance, for people who are living with a terminal diagnosis. We therefore recommend that the Government commission such research and report back to Parliament.
Government Response Summary
The government has accepted the recommendation by investing £3 million through the National Institute for Health and Care Research into a new Palliative and End Of Life Care Policy Research Unit to build the evidence base. It also highlights existing NHS Talking Therapies and a priority for integrating mental and physical health services for those with long-term conditions.
Department of Health and Social Care
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Conclusions (2)
2
Conclusion
Accepted
Throughout our inquiry, a common theme across the evidence was the pursuit of the very best end of life care, and what many witnesses called “a good death”, where the person dying was cared for with compassion and high-quality care and provided with as much agency and choice as possible. …
Government Response Summary
The government details ongoing work and existing policies aimed at improving end-of-life care, including mandatory commissioning for Integrated Care Boards, statutory guidance from NHS England, the development of a palliative care dashboard, and recognition of personalised care in the Major Conditions Strategy.
4
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 39
During our inquiry we have heard statements from people who have been involved in assisting a loved one to pursue AD/AS abroad.
Government Response Summary
The government is investing £3 million in a new Palliative and End of Life Care Policy Research Unit to build the evidence base for all-age palliative and end-of-life care, and highlights existing NHS Talking Therapies services for mental health support.