But what if the suffering that drives some people into finding life unbearable is avoidable, unnecessary suffering? Suffering that could & would be alleviated - if only UK palliative care services weren’t a threadbare patchwork of appallingly underfunded inadequacy? 1/3

A great appointment. Congratulations to Tim

Assisted dying is in the spotlight as MPs consider a bill this month. Hospice UK is neutral on a change in the law. Regardless of the outcome, we believe it's crucial to ensure everyone has access to quality end-of-life care and to consider all details in this complex debate.

Six month prognosis criterion is hugely risky and a palatable entry point into making #AssistedDying legal, so that it is more acceptable in the public eye. Interview for The Guardian

Congratulations George. Looking forward to singing in our next concert

Fascinating reporting from ⁦Jessica Elgot⁩ digging into breadth of Commons sentiment not just on assisted dying but flaws in the process. MPs’ opposition to assisted dying bill grows amid criticism of lack of debate | Assisted dying | The Guardian theguardian.com/society/2024/o…

Whether or not laws on assisted dying are introduced, the government funding model for our struggling hospice and end of life care system must be urgently reviewed 👇 theguardian.com/society/2024/o…

The start of Bushey Symphony's 50th Anniversary season is at 3pm tomorrow, 10 November, at the Clarendon Muse, Watford WD18 7JA Fabmusic by Saint-Saens, Tchaikovsky, Elgar and Mozart with ariana kashefi cello and conductor @GeorgeVass19. Details & tickets here: busheysymphony.org.uk

On my way to Dublin for the European Conference on Grief with colleagues from Grief Encounter Dr. Susan Cadell she/her Irene Murphy

Our friends @StAchoralsoc are giving a fabulous concert at 7.30pm on Saturday 16 November St Albans Cathedral – such a brilliantly wide-ranging programme from Bach via Poulenc to Duruflé and with some world class soloists. Go if you can ...

Was a great conference and a great pleasure to meet colleagues

Thanks for this post. Palliative Care Social Workers are skilled professionals in working with all ages APCSW

I was one of many who recommended in written evidence that everyone requesting assisted dying should have - at minimum - a palliative care assessment. Lack of capacity is not a reassuring reason to reject this amendment. Palliative care can alleviate a wish for hastened death.

Strong statement from ⁦Royal College of Psychiatrists⁩ “We cannot support the Terminally Ill Adults Bill” rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-s…

Tom Fletcher's speech last night to the UN Security Council will go down as one of the great historic speeches of our times. Top marks to the BBC and the editor of R4 PM for having the initiative & courage to run all 12 minutes at the top of the PM programme this evening.

This is FALSE. People with mental disorders are not excluded- just can't be their main reason. KL conflates mental disorder with mental capacity. Obviously she has no idea about care for suicidal people & no interest in proper safeguards for the vulnerable theguardian.com/society/2025/m…

Danny Kruger is correct. I’m not opposed to assisted dying, in principle. But I am opposed to half-truths, hyperbole, spin and celebrity endorsement being used to drive law change. Especially when that law change puts the most vulnerable in our society at risk of wrongful death.

Dr Neil Hudson MP (Neil Hudson): About 70% of end-of-life care is delivered outside the NHS, largely by charities. There is something deeply wrong about this. Shouldn't we address palliative and hospice care before we go anywhere near this assisted suicide Bill?

A tour de force of a speech from Daniel Francis MP. He rages at the absurd idea that the Mental Capacity Act is a sufficient safeguard for the learning disabled. He quotes Dr Rachel Clarke Jamilla Hussain Mencap Kishwer Falkner Royal College of Psychiatrists and The Law Society True Labour values ❤️

Naz Shah MP (Naz Shah MP): If the safeguards fail even once, no one in this house would be able to say we did not see this coming. “That is not compassion, that is abandonment”.