Today, MPs voted to pass the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill at third reading by 314 votes to 291. The Bill will now proceed to the House of Lords where it will undergo further scrutiny.
Together for Short Lives remains neutral on the ethical, moral and philosophical basis for assisted dying. However, if the Bill becomes law, it would have significant implications for seriously ill children and young people, their families and the professionals and services that support them.
We are disappointed that our proposed amendments, which would have incorporated additional safeguards to address these concerns, have not been tabled. We now look ahead to the stages in the House of Lords where we will continue to work to ensure the Bill is strengthened in this regard.
Before voting to give the Bill a third reading, MPs supported an important amendment tabled by Munira Wilson MP. This requires the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to review the availability, quality and distribution of palliative and end of life care services within one year of the Act being passed.
We are pleased that MPs voted in support of this amendment. It is now crucial that, should the Bill become an Act of Parliament, the review includes children’s palliative care.
Right now, a child’s access to 24/7 end of life care at home depends on where they live. With severe workforce shortages and a £310 million funding gap confronting the sector, coupled with a lack of accountability among local NHS bodies and councils, urgent action is needed to tackle this postcode lottery and ensure seriously ill children and their families can access the care and support they need, when and where they need it.
Responding to the outcome of today’s debate, chief executive of Together for Short Lives, Nick Carroll said:
“I completely understand and respect the differing views that people hold on assisted dying. While I recognise the focus of this Bill is on adults, the debate has taken place with very little consideration of the potential implications it could have for seriously ill children, their families and the professionals who support them.
“I’m really disappointed that the amendments we put forward have been overlooked. These would have not only acknowledged the potential impact of the Bill on seriously ill children and young people but also introduced essential safeguards for them and the children’s palliative care sector. These are not optional extras, they are essential protections that should not have been left out of the conversation.
“With an ongoing postcode lottery in children’s palliative care, it is now vital that, as this Bill progresses, it leads to meaningful improvements. While we welcome the amendment proposed by Munira Wilson and are pleased to see MPs support it, it’s essential that the resulting review includes access to children’s palliative care. We cannot allow seriously ill children to be sidelined again.
“Too many families are being let down by a system that is not built to last. We remain committed to working with peers to ensure that these children and their families are not overlooked—and that the palliative care they need is improved.”
Together for Short Lives is urging peers to carefully consider the implications this Bill could have for seriously ill children, their families and the professionals supporting them—and to ensure that sufficient safeguards are incorporated.