Kim Leadbeater has urged MPs to back an amendment to the assisted dying bill which would commission a new assessment on the state of palliative care, a move first proposed by the bill’s opponents.
In a gesture to MPs who are voting against the bill, the MP sponsoring it said that she understood the concern about the quality of care for terminally ill people and said she believed that improving palliative services should not be in competition with assisted dying.
Leadbeater announced her backing for the amendment – which has not yet been chosen by the speaker – after a meeting with the chief executive of Marie Curie. The amendment, which has been proposed for the next reading of the bill this Friday, is authored by the Lib Dem MP Munira Wilson and 21 others who have previously voted against it.
It comes amid a race by both sides to persuade MPs to change their mind on the bill – whichpassed by a majority of 55in November, and on which MPs have a free vote.
A number of changeswere made to the bill during its committee stage, including replacing the approval of a high court judge with that of a panel of experts.
Leadbeater said she would urge MPs to back Wilson’s amendment, which is supported by Marie Curie and other palliative care charities. The health secretary, Wes Streeting, who is opposed to the bill, has said in the past he is concerned that the NHS is not fit to cope with the change and that he is worried people would choose to hasten their deaths because of the current state of the healthcare service.
The amendment says that the government must undertake “an assessment of the availability, quality and distribution of appropriate health services to persons with palliative and end of life care needs”. It says that should be made at the earliest opportunity in the reporting on the implementation of the legislation.
Leadbeater said that while she could not influence the selection of amendments, she hoped MPs would back that change if they were given the chance.
“I agree with Marie Curie that everything possible should be done to strengthen and extend the provision of palliative care services,” she said.
“I was happy to confirm in our meeting that I am fully committed to a holistic approach to end-of-life care and choice and that I am determined that if the terminally ill adults (end of life) bill passes, it should be accompanied by improvements to palliative care inEnglandand Wales, as has been the experience in other jurisdictions where assisted dying is already available as an option.”
She said Marie Curie had “made the point that the case for improved palliative care is not in competition with the idea of allowing an assisted death in certain, very tightly drawn circumstances and I agree.
“While I cannot pre-empt the decision of the speaker about which amendments to select for debate, I would encourage colleagues in parliament to support this amendment, if and when it is put to a vote.”
Marie Curie Chief Executive, Matthew Reed, said: “Marie Curie is firmly neutral on the matter of assisted dying, but we are far from neutral on the urgent need to improve palliative and end of life care.
“And while on its own, this amendment would not guarantee any improvements to palliative and end of life care, understanding what provision is currently available, and where, is a crucial step towards the UK and Welsh governments taking action to ensure everyone who needs palliative care is able to access it.”
The bill would allow an assisted death for those with a terminal illness with less than six months to live, needing the approval of two doctors and a panel including a specialist lawyer, social worker and psychiatrist.
Other amendments proposed by MPs that are gathering support include prohibiting doctors from raising the prospect of an assisted death with patients – a change proposed by the Labour MP Meg Hillier – and a specialist carve-outfor eating disorders such as anorexia, which MPs have said they fear could be considered a terminal illness in some cases.