Focus on palliative care, not assisted death

The state of end-of-life care needs needs to be “straightened out” before considering legalizing assisted dying, a palliative care expert has said.

Lawmakers across the country will vote on Friday whether to advance the proposed bill to the next stage.

But palliative care consultant at Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, Dr. Mike Blaber said end-of-life care requires “urgent attention.”

It comes as care homes warn the sector is facing a financial crisis despite the government pledging support.

“(The bill) is not about expanding options, because the option to have excellent palliative care does not currently exist, that needs to be fixed before we do anything else,” Dr Blaber said. he said.

The branch of medicine aims to relieve the pain and improve the quality of life of terminally ill patients and is one of the best examples of this. can make a big difference their own and their families’ experiences.

Dr. Blaber opposes attempts to legalize assisted dying and said if a new law were introduced, vulnerable patients without access to quality palliative care could feel pressure to end their lives.

He said he had encountered patients who did not want to be a “nuisance” and feared the legislation would put a “soft crack” on those who felt palliative care was no longer an option.

Speaking to BBC Radio WM, he said the sector was “grossly underfunded”.

St Giles Hospice in Lichfield warned it was facing a £1.5m deficit in the summer.

Chief executive Elinor Eustace said sustainable financing was “an imperative” to meet the needs of everyone who needs end-of-life care.

He added that the parliamentary bill comes at a time when care homes are facing “increasingly difficult times”.

Birmingham Hospice likewise announced in June that it would close beds and reduce staff due to an estimated £2.4 million budget shortfall, despite huge demand for its services.

many others nursing homes nationally is in a similar position.

Hospice UK, which represents the sector, has requested £110 million in emergency funding.

Stating that demand continues to increase, the organization said, “High quality end-of-life and palliative care is not currently available to everyone who needs it.”

The organization called on MPs to support “more investment”.

Earlier this month, Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC he would “make sure we protect our hospitals” following concerns about an increase in National Insurance (NI) employer contributions. Budget, It will negatively impact hospice finances and their ability to support people.

“Caring for terminally ill patients is a privilege, not a burden, and that’s what we need to focus on,” Dr Blaber said.