Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, opposed the assisted dying service legislation due to financial and care accessibility issues within the NHS. Despite the bill passing a Commons vote, he emphasized that funding for effective end-of-life care is lacking. Campaigners favoring the bill argue it offers terminally ill patients a dignified option, while Streeting warns about potential coercion. He cited former PM Gordon Brown's views on the lack of true choice without adequate alternatives, highlighting the pressing need for sufficient care resources that are currently financially unfeasible.
Even with the savings that might come from assisted dying if people take up the service - and it feels uncomfortable talking about savings in this context to be honest - setting up this service will also take time and money that is in short supply.
The truth is that creating those conditions will take time and money. There isn’t a budget for this. Politics is about prioritising. It is a daily series of choices and trade-offs.
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