BETTER PALLIATIVE CARE for seriously ill patients is needed, according to the Church of England.
The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Rev James Newcome, made the comment on behalf of the C of E after MPs rejected an assisted dying bill – 330 against, 118 for – in the House of Commons on September 11. The MPs’ vote meant there were three to one against the second reading of the private member’s bill brought to Parliament by Labour MP Rob Marris.
Rt Rev James Newcome welcomed the Commons’ decision but also warned that critically ill patients needed much more support for end of life care.
He said: “The vote in the House of Commons sends a strong signal that the right approach towards supporting the terminally ill is to offer compassion and support through better palliative care. We believe that all of us need to redouble our efforts on that front.”