A UK parliamentary committee's inquiry into assisted dying has sparked a heated debate about the need for improved palliative care. While some argue that this issue is separate from discussions around assisted dying, others contend that the two cannot be ignored.
Critics of the assisted dying bill point to the current state of end-of-life care in the NHS as a pressing concern. Palliative care specialist Rachel Clarke recently highlighted the neglect of dying patients, citing statistics on deaths at home and inadequate GP visits during terminal stages. However, experts argue that this is precisely why assisted dying must be part of the conversation.
The CEO of Hospice UK, Toby Porter, notes that the government's £100m investment in hospices was partly driven by the Termination of Life Unwantedly (TLU) bill. This suggests that discussions around assisted dying have indeed led to increased investment and attention on palliative care.
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock has acknowledged that the bill has sparked improvements in palliative care, including announcements about further investments in the coming weeks. However, critics point out that even with increased funding, many hospices operate on a patchwork system with varying levels of service quality across different regions.
The lack of standardization and financial sustainability is causing problems, as highlighted by the National Audit Office's review of adult hospice services. The current reliance on charitable support hinders progress, resulting in an unequal distribution of patient beds and services.
Some argue that the introduction of out-of-hours teams has led to a decline in primary care teams' ability to offer 24-hour palliative care. This results in patients being forced to rely on under-resourced services, further exacerbating the end-of-life care crisis.
The debate around assisted dying also offers an opportunity for learning from other sectors, such as obstetrics. The unified service provided by birth units is a model worth emulating, with better funding and resources.
Ultimately, the debate around assisted dying highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to palliative care, including improved access, quality, and choice. While there are valid concerns about the risks associated with assisted dying, these must be balanced against the human cost of continued suffering.
As one writer notes, even the most advanced palliative care has its limits, and assisted dying can provide a dignified option for those who have exhausted all other avenues. The current system is not meeting the needs of all patients, particularly those in distressing situations like her mother's.
The debate around assisted dying must continue, with a focus on driving meaningful conversations and investment in end-of-life care. By welcoming this conversation, we can work towards creating a more compassionate and dignified system for all patients at the end of life.
Critics of the assisted dying bill point to the current state of end-of-life care in the NHS as a pressing concern. Palliative care specialist Rachel Clarke recently highlighted the neglect of dying patients, citing statistics on deaths at home and inadequate GP visits during terminal stages. However, experts argue that this is precisely why assisted dying must be part of the conversation.
The CEO of Hospice UK, Toby Porter, notes that the government's £100m investment in hospices was partly driven by the Termination of Life Unwantedly (TLU) bill. This suggests that discussions around assisted dying have indeed led to increased investment and attention on palliative care.
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock has acknowledged that the bill has sparked improvements in palliative care, including announcements about further investments in the coming weeks. However, critics point out that even with increased funding, many hospices operate on a patchwork system with varying levels of service quality across different regions.
The lack of standardization and financial sustainability is causing problems, as highlighted by the National Audit Office's review of adult hospice services. The current reliance on charitable support hinders progress, resulting in an unequal distribution of patient beds and services.
Some argue that the introduction of out-of-hours teams has led to a decline in primary care teams' ability to offer 24-hour palliative care. This results in patients being forced to rely on under-resourced services, further exacerbating the end-of-life care crisis.
The debate around assisted dying also offers an opportunity for learning from other sectors, such as obstetrics. The unified service provided by birth units is a model worth emulating, with better funding and resources.
Ultimately, the debate around assisted dying highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to palliative care, including improved access, quality, and choice. While there are valid concerns about the risks associated with assisted dying, these must be balanced against the human cost of continued suffering.
As one writer notes, even the most advanced palliative care has its limits, and assisted dying can provide a dignified option for those who have exhausted all other avenues. The current system is not meeting the needs of all patients, particularly those in distressing situations like her mother's.
The debate around assisted dying must continue, with a focus on driving meaningful conversations and investment in end-of-life care. By welcoming this conversation, we can work towards creating a more compassionate and dignified system for all patients at the end of life.
. I mean, let's be real, we need better hospices and more funding ASAP, but is it fair to make people wait forever for proper care when they're struggling? 
The stats on deaths at home are shocking, and it's clear that our current system is not doing enough.
. The fact that we're still seeing patchwork systems and under-resourced services is unacceptable.
. Let's stop beating around the bush and start talking about what needs to be done to improve end-of-life care in the UK!
I mean, it's crazy that just 'cause one bill gets introduced, we start seein' improvements in palliative care right? It's like, we're gettin' our priorities straight and makin' sure everyone's got access to decent end-of-life care. And yeah, we should def be learnin' from other sectors too - those birth units seem like they're doin' it right! 
Just kidding, it's actually really serious. But seriously, £100m investment is a good start, but we need more standardization and funding that doesn't rely on charity. I mean, can you imagine having to choose between paying your electricity bill or getting proper care for your loved one? 
Not ideal.
Obstetrics have got this right, though - unified service all day long. Let's learn from them!
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. And the fact that hospices are operating on a patchwork system with varying levels of service quality across different regions is just frustrating 
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. The unified service provided by birth units does seem like a pretty great model to emulate 
. And maybe - just maybe - assisted dying could be part of that conversation? We need to find ways to support patients who are in distressing situations and want some control over their own end-of-life care 
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. We can't just have one or the other; we need a comprehensive approach that includes improved access, quality, and choice for all patients 
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like what's next? just gonna leave my mum to suffer cuz i don't wanna deal with the hassle of actual help 
gotta prioritize those out-of-hours teams tho, can't have ppl dying cuz they didn't get 24/7 care 
and btw, birth units in obstetrics are like the ultimate model for palliative care - who's learning from that? 
We need to be talking about how we can improve end-of-life care, and assisted dying can't just be ignored. It's like, if we're gonna invest £100m in hospices, it better be part of a bigger conversation about how we can make things better for people at the end of life.
The obstetrics model is literally the ultimate in unified care - let's bring that to end-of-life care! And as one writer said, even the best palliative care has its limits... and assisted dying can be a dignified option for those who've tried everything else.
. And the fact that we're still relying on charitable support is just crazy 
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. We can't just focus on the risks associated with assisted dying without considering the human cost of continued suffering.
. The fact that hospices are operating on a patchwork system and relying on charitable support is just not right 
. We need better funding and standardization so everyone has access to quality care 
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. It's just a Band-Aid solution to cover up the NHS's bigger problems. They're not going to suddenly fix the lack of standardization and funding issues in hospices, no way. The out-of-hours teams are probably just a way to shift more patients onto under-resourced services. And what about the fact that charitable support is still being relied on? It's like they're just throwing money at the problem without actually addressing the root causes.
. That's not exactly a comparable service, you know. But hey, if it works for giving birth, maybe it'll magically fix end-of-life care too... right? The debate around assisted dying is just another way to spin the NHS's incompetence into something more palatable 
. The stats on deaths at home and inadequate GP visits during terminal stages are just heartbreaking. We need a more comprehensive approach that prioritizes compassion over bureaucracy 
. But we also can't ignore the human cost of continued suffering 
. I've had friends who've been stuck in hospitals for months, feeling miserable and disconnected from their loved ones... it's just not right.
. We need more standardization, better funding, and a genuine commitment to improving end-of-life care across the board 
. and don't even get me started on out-of-hours teams 
but at the same time, i get where those who want assisted dying are coming from. it's all about giving people dignity in death, ya know? 
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