At St Raphael’s Hospice, our unwavering commitment is to provide expert, compassionate palliative and end-of-life care to the people of Merton and Sutton.
We recognise that today’s vote in the House of Commons on assisted dying marks a significant and sensitive moment for many. This remains a deeply personal and emotive subject, particularly for people living with terminal illness and for those who are important to them.
As stated previously, St Raphael’s Hospice remains neutral on the issue of assisted dying. We do so to ensure that every patient feels equally supported, respected and safe, whatever their individual circumstances, beliefs or decisions may be. Our care is provided without judgement or bias, and with the utmost honesty, compassion and integrity.
Whatever the outcome of today’s vote, our stance remains the same and our focus is unchanged: to ensure that people in our community have access to the highest standard of specialist palliative and end-of-life care, whenever they need it.
This vital care remains critically underfunded by the NHS and must not be overlooked within the wider conversation about assisted dying. Every person living with a terminal or life-limiting illness should be able to access high-quality hospice and palliative care if they need and want it. Access to this care must not become an ‘either/or’ within the assisted dying debate.
Our commitment will continue to be to our patients, their families and those important to them — providing compassionate, expert care and support at some of the most difficult times in their lives.