Second Report - Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide

The government states that should Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide legislation be enacted, it will discuss its practical and constitutional implications for England and Wales with the devolved administrations and Crown Dependencies.

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.

The government's response details funding for hospices, including £25 million for children's hospices in 2024/25, and discusses disparities in hospice access, completely sidestepping the recommendation regarding the clarity of the law on Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide.

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.

The government states it does not plan to establish a national strategy for death literacy and outlines existing palliative and end-of-life care strategies and training, but does not address the recommendation for revised guidance from the GMC and BMA on doctors assisting with medical reports for assisted suicide abroad.

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.

The government redirects responsibility for any change to the law regarding Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide to Parliament, stating it is a matter of conscience for individual parliamentarians rather than a government policy matter.

The government redirects responsibility for any change to the law regarding Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide to Parliament, stating it is a matter of conscience for individual parliamentarians rather than a government policy matter.

The government redirects responsibility for any change to the law regarding Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide to Parliament, stating it is a matter of conscience for individual parliamentarians rather than a government policy matter.

The government redirects responsibility for any change to the law regarding Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide to Parliament, stating it is a matter of conscience for individual parliamentarians rather than a government policy matter.

The government redirects responsibility for any change to the law regarding Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide to Parliament, stating it is a matter of conscience for individual parliamentarians rather than a government policy matter.

The government redirects responsibility for any change to the law regarding Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide to Parliament, stating it is a matter of conscience for individual parliamentarians rather than a government policy matter.

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.

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.

The government explains the current funding model for hospices and does not commit to a general uplift for all hospices requiring assistance. However, it details significant increases and renewals of funding specifically for children's hospices, including £25 million allocated for 2023/24 and renewed for 2024/25.

The government's response broadly discusses the report's focus on palliative and end-of-life care and the department's existing work, but does not specifically address the committee's expression of sadness and sympathy for those who lost loved ones to suicide.

The government acknowledges the report's focus on palliative and end-of-life care, stating it has already introduced significant improvements and that the UK is an international leader in this area, while recognizing more work is still needed.

The government's response broadly discusses its efforts in palliative and end-of-life care and the UK's leadership, but does not specifically address the committee's observations on the subjective nature of a 'good death' or the current limitations of medical interventions for all symptoms.

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.

The government explicitly states it does not plan to establish a national strategy for death literacy. Instead, it will address related issues through the inclusion of palliative care in wider strategies, existing training for professionals, and ongoing research by the new Policy Research Unit.