Hospices across the UK are preparing for sweeping changes if the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill becomes law, with charity bosses warning that the controversial legislation could lead to staff and volunteer resignations.
Toby Porter, the chief executive of Hospice UK, which represents over 200 hospices nationwide, fears that the passing of the bill could see workers who disagree with it exit the sector. In an already under-resourced workforce, Porter says there is a “major risk” of staff saying, “I can’t hack this, this is too controversial, I’m gonna go off and work somewhere else.”
The bill, which was first introduced in October 2024, would allow terminally ill adults expected to die within six months to choose an assisted death. It is currently being considered by the House of Lords, where over 1,000 amendments have been tabled, leading to accusations from the bill’s sponsor, Labour MP Kim Leadbetter, that peers are attempting to “sabotage” it.
Porter acknowledges the potential complications around staff not wanting to engage with assisted dying, but says hospice workers will not make any final decisions until there is more clarity on what the legislation could mean for the sector. He warns that a law change would cut across issues of wellbeing, religion, ethics and politics, potentially leading to divisions within teams that have “never experienced that before.”
Hospices also face the prospect of financial pressures if the sector does not receive the required funding to adapt to the new legislation. Porter cautions that if hospices have to divert more attention and resources towards assisted dying, it could “directly pull away from their other work.”
James Sanderson, the chief executive of the palliative care charity Sue Ryder, says the possibility of the bill passing into law accelerates the need for reform in the sector, where issues of inequality and increased demand for care must be addressed. Sanderson warns that if people cannot access the care they need, they may view assisted death “as a better option for them.”
The Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged the “extremely tough pressures” facing hospices, and has committed significant funding to improve facilities and support patient care. However, with the future of end-of-life and palliative care hanging in the balance, hospices are bracing for a period of profound change.
