Senior doctors in the UK have urged the government to prioritize improvements in the palliative care system as a bill on assisted dying progresses through Parliament.

The Association for Palliative Medicine warns that resources necessary for administering assisted dying could be diverted from essential end-of-life care.

Dr. Sarah Cox, President of the APM, emphasized the need for immediate action, highlighting the potential risk to an already underfunded system.

She underscored that the UK's palliative care, once considered world-leading, now requires increased funding and reform.

MPs recently voted to advance a bill that would legalize assisted dying in England and Wales, triggering extensive debate and requiring further legislative approval.

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, in favor of the bill, called for simultaneous improvements in palliative care, aligning with Health Secretary Wes Streeting's concerns about the system's adequacy.

Dianne Abbott, Labour MP, opposed the bill, emphasizing the need for accessible hospice care and expressing worries that vulnerable individuals might feel compelled to choose assisted dying due to economic burdens or inadequate care options.

Hospice UK and the Office for Health Economics also stressed the importance of addressing palliative care funding, noting its current insufficiency in meeting the needs of the aging population.

Reports indicate that many hospitals lack comprehensive palliative care services, and hospices face financial challenges, relying heavily on non-NHS fundraising.

The Health and Care Committee linked the introduction of assisted dying in some countries with palliative care improvements, although experts like Dr. Cox and Marie Curie's Sam Royston remain cautious about resource allocation.

An independent commission on hospice and end-of-life care, as suggested by Baroness Ilora Finlay and other political leaders, could offer much-needed solutions to ensure sustainable, high-quality palliative care in the UK.