'It's a mess' Assisted dying debate brings critical state of palliative care into focus

During last Friday's debate in the House of Commons on assisted dying, Wes Streeting was seen ferociously nodding as MPs raised the need for better end-of-life care.

- Aletha Adu

While the health secretary is yet to share his official view on draft proposals for a commission on palliative care, some of those behind it have taken comfort from his apparent gesture of support.

Streeting exasperated many of his cabinet colleagues, including Keir Starmer, with his public explanations for voting against the bill, but many Labour figures believe he was right to share his disapproval at the state of end-of-life care.

"They believe it's fair enough for us to repeatedly blame the former government for the fiscal mess they left behind, so why can't they highlight how much of a mess the palliative care system is in for so many people?" one MP said.

They hope that Downing Street will feel some obligation to support the independent commission's work, given the prime minister has silently backed Kim Leadbeater's private member's bill so far.

Many supporters of assisted dying say legislation, which passed its first Commons hurdle on Friday, should go hand in hand with greater investment in palliative care.

About 300,000 people were cared for in the country's 200-plus hospices in 2022-23, according to Hospice UK.