House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee Inquiry into Perspectives on Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide

The UK has been a world leader in the hospice movement, building on the foundations laid by pioneers like Cicely Saunders who famously said: ‘You matter because you are you, and you matter to the end of your life. We will do all we can not only to help you die peacefully, but also to live until you die.’

The need for palliative care and end of life care is due to increase up to 42% in the next 20 years, as predicted by Marie Curie UK. One in four people in the UK are currently unable to access the palliative care they need, as estimated by Hospice UK. Over the past 16 years, the proportion of people dying at their usual place of residence has been steadily increasing, according to a 2022 survey from the Nuffield Trust. It is clear that demand is already outstripping supply and that a significant increase in investment in palliative care services will be required to meet the growing need.

Our appeal is that priority be given to training a new generation of palliative care specialists and to multiplying palliative care units and symptom control teams. There is enormous benefit to families where hospice-type care is locally available, and this also encourages ‘ownership’ by local communities, which helps generate income through fund-raising and legacies.

People often have fears or misunderstandings about what can be offered by way of end-of-life care; giving palliative care services a reasonable chance to alleviate the situation should be a pre-requisite.

However, evidence[1] shows that ‘palliative care and assisted dying do not, and cannot, co-exist harmoniously. They do not rise and fall together because they are not complementary but are diametrically opposed both in theory and practice. One can truly flourish only at the exclusion of the other.’

See thefull CMF submission to the Health and Social Care Committee Enquiry

[1] Caldwell S. Palliative care and assisted dying – never the twain shall meet. Published in Conservative Woman, 19 November 2021. conservativewoman.co.uk/palliative-care-and-assisted-dying-never-the-twain-shall-meet/

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Steven Fouch (CMF Head of Communications) 020 7234 9668

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Alistair Thompson on 07970 162 225

About CMF:

Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) was founded in 1949 and is an interdenominational organisation with over 5,000 doctors, 900medical and nursing students and 300 nurses and midwives as members in all branches of medicine, nursing and midwifery. A registered charity, it is linked to over 100 similar bodies in other countries throughout the world.

CMF exists to unite Christian healthcare professionals to pursue the highest ethical standards in Christian and professional life and to increase faith in Christ and acceptance of his ethical teaching.