EPA
Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated that there is currently no budget allocated for an assisted dying service, despite MPs endorsing it in a significant vote last Friday.
Streeting, a prominent opponent of the legislation, shared a detailed explanation on his Facebook account outlining his reasons for voting against it.
He highlighted the existing shortage of quality end-of-life care amidst tightening NHS finances, which could exacerbate pressures for patients at the end of life.
Streeting expressed his commitment to ensuring effective implementation if the legislation passes but voiced concerns over what he sees as a misguided decision by MPs.
The government’s stance on the bill remains neutral, which was passed in the Commons with a narrow majority and will now face examination in the House of Lords. MPs had a free vote during this session.
Supporters of the legislation assert it provides terminally ill adults the autonomy to choose their end-of-life arrangements, potentially alleviating suffering. However, opponents caution that it could lead to vulnerable individuals feeling pressured to opt for assisted death.
In his statement, Streeting referenced former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s assertion that “true freedom of choice is meaningless if viable alternatives are not accessible,” emphasizing the need for adequate end-of-life care resources.
He noted: “Addressing these conditions will require both time and resources. Even with potential savings from assisted dying, establishing this service demands significant investment that is currently lacking.”
“No budget exists for this. Politics entails making choices and trade-offs. I fear we’ve made the wrong choice.”
Streeting, representing Ilford North, expressed a desire to collaborate on the technical components of the bill as it moves through Parliament and affirmed his high regard for the bill’s advocates.
A policy impact assessment released in May outlined both costs and potential savings related to the initiative.
It suggested that in the initial six months, NHS savings could range from approximately £919,000 to £10.3 million.
This estimate included costs associated with hospitalizations, primary care, hospice services, medications, and other care that individuals opting for assisted death may not incur.
Over a decade, projected savings might reach between £5.84 million and £59.6 million.
However, there are anticipated costs as well. Managing an assisted dying service could surpass £10 million annually within ten years, while initial training expenses might exceed £11 million.
As the House of Lords prepares to examine the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, assisted dying advocate Dame Esther Rantzen remarked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that while it is the Lords’ duty to scrutinize, they should not overturn the Commons’ decision.
“Their responsibility involves questioning, but not opposing,” she stated.
“While some individuals vehemently oppose this Bill—and they are entitled to do so—they shouldn’t hinder its passage through the Lords, whose role is to validate the legislation put forth by the elected Commons.”
Dame Esther acknowledged the harsh reality that her terminal cancer might compel her to seek treatment abroad at the Dignitas clinic before the legislation is enacted.
Crossbench peer Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who opposes the bill, expressed hope that additional protections could be incorporated in the coming months.
“Preparations are underway for its arrival in the Lords, and from my perspective, I’m focused on strengthening it through amendments,” she conveyed.
“While we have been told this is the strongest bill globally, I believe we still have a long way to go in terms of safeguards.”
Another critic, Conservative peer and disability rights advocate Lord Shinkwin, argued that the bill requires thorough examination.
“The closeness of the vote indicates that many MPs would welcome another opportunity to reassess this in light of adequate safeguards for vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and disabled,” he added.
The bill may face delays in the Lords, potentially running out of parliamentary time; however, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who championed it through the Commons as a Private Member’s Bill, expressed concern that anyone might treat this significant and emotional issue lightly.
