The Bishop of London, Sarah Mullally, has responded to the publication by The Health and Social Care Committee of its report on Assisted Dying/Assisted Suicide.
Bishop Sarah, a former Chief Nursing Officer for England, said: “In over 20 years of working in the NHS, I witnessed first-hand the critical role that palliative care plays for patients and for their families. Particularly in my time as a cancer nurse in the capital, the difference I saw it make was deeply moving and inspirational in equal measure. This country has some of the best palliative care services in the world – but they are currently underfunded and overly-reliant on charitable donations.
“This is why I welcome the report’s call for the Government to ensure universal coverage of palliative and end-of-life services, including hospice care at home, and its recommendation that the Government commits to an uplift of funding to guarantee support for hospices in need of financial help. I also welcome the call for better mental health support for terminally ill people.
“In 2022, the Church of England’s General Synod members voted overwhelmingly to oppose a change in the law and the DPP’s guidelines on Assisted Suicide and called for adequate funding and resourcing of palliative care services. This is about offering compassion and direct support for the terminally ill, to ensure the highest possible standard of care for all.”
