Following today’s House of Commons vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, our Chief Executive Tony Collins responds as below 👇

“Across our organisation and wider charity, which works with both those who are dying and bereaved, we believe in treating all those we serve as individuals and value choice. All decisions are guided by core ethical principles, legal frameworks and professional guidelines that are well established within healthcare provision. Every person we support is treated with dignity and respect for choice.

“We acknowledge the decision to move towards legislating for assisted dying to be introduced in England and Wales. As an independent charity with Herriot Hospice Homecare and Saint Michael’s Hospice, we work with dying and death, and will work closely with all those involved in the detail of the legislation, seeking to ensure that real choice, including reform to the government funding palliative and end of life care receives, is sustainably available for all. We will also seek to ensure that the vulnerable are well-protected and safeguarded.

“If voted through, and as the legislation takes shape over the coming weeks and months, we will consider and plan the involvement of our specialist bereavement and emotional wellbeing services. This will be part of our purpose and mission to provide specialist bereavement support for those we serve.

“There will then be much more detail to come in this process, and as an organisation, we will regularly review and update our position.

“This issue may bring up a range of different emotions for some people. Our Just ‘B’ team, part of our family of services and wider charity, is here for you via Just ‘B’ Hear to Help. Visit justb.org.uk/hear-to-help”