Statement on Assisted Dying

At St Cuthbert’s Hospice, our mission is to make every day count for people with life-limiting illnesses in County Durham. We exist to deliver excellent care and support to individuals, allowing them to live with dignity and purpose. We support each person and their family and friends, to make informed choices and decisions affecting their lives. We are committed to enhancing the wellbeing and quality of life for those we care for, providing compassionate and respectful care throughout their journey, including at the end-of-life.

The topic of assisted dying, which can include assisted suicide or euthanasia, is deeply complex and evokes strong emotions. Individuals and organisations have varying opinions on this sensitive issue. We know these differing views will be held among those we care for, our staff, volunteers, trustees.. While we have the utmost respect for these diverse perspectives, we hold a neutral position. We are neither for or against the proposal to legalise assisted dying but we recognise the importance of exploring the implications for hospice care should the law change.

Our commitment is to deliver excellent specialist palliative and end-of-life care. We cannot do this alone; we actively promote and champion palliative care, advising, supporting, and collaborating with care partners to ensure that all who need our care have easy access to it.

However, we know that access to palliative and end-of-life care is not equitable across the UK. Although the Government has committed to increasing NHS funding for palliative care through the Health and Care Act 2022, the support remains limited, with, on average, only around 30% of the necessary funds currently provided. Hospices rely on fundraising to continue delivering their services.

The debate surrounding assisted dying highlights the critical need for increased funding and consideration of palliative care provision in the UK. We welcome this emphasis and believe that making high-quality palliative care accessible to everyone, regardless of their circumstances, is essential. .

As the law currently stands, many people are concerned about the quality of end-of-life care they may receive. They need to feel assured that good palliative care, including in hospices, is available. If the law changes to allow assisted dying, and give people more choice about how and when they die, it’s crucial that access to good palliative and end-of-life care is in place. This will make sure that individuals can make a genuine choice about their death, rather than feeling pressured by concerns about losing their dignity or see themselves as a “burden”.

Our focus remains on ensuring every individual has access to compassionate, high-quality palliative care until their death. We are dedicated to raising awareness about our services, dispelling misconceptions about hospice care, and fostering conversations about death and dying in a supportive and inclusive environment. Our community initiative ‘Everything in Place’ encourages people to engage in conversations about their wishes with those who matter most to them and to create Advance Care Plans that reflect their views and values.

Everyone has unique thoughts and preferences regarding what constitutes a ‘good death’. We will listen to and respect each individual’s views.  You can read our Philosophy of Care statement here.

As we move forward, our priority remains clear: to ensure that all members of our community are informed about the range of care and support we provide, and feel empowered to access the care they need, while continuing to advocate for equitable access to palliative care for all.

Last updated 16 October 2024