Hospices ‘on the Brink’ as Assisted Dying Legislation Looms

Published: 12 September 2025 | English Chronicle Desk

Hospices across England are facing mounting financial pressures and risk being pushed “to the brink” if assisted dying legislation is passed, the sector has warned ahead of the first House of Lords debate on the proposed law. Hospice UK, the leading body representing hospices, said many institutions are struggling financially and remain uncertain about how end-of-life care will be funded under a new legal framework.

The terminally ill adults (end of life) bill is scheduled for its second reading in the House of Lords on Friday, with Labour peer Charlie Falconer, co-sponsor of the legislation, taking over proceedings from MP Kim Leadbeater. Falconer expressed cautious optimism that the bill could pass through the Lords in time to become law by the spring. “There is more than enough time for the Lords to scrutinise the bill and return it to the Commons before the end of the parliamentary session,” he said. “If there are ways that peers believe it can be further strengthened and improved, then Kim Leadbeater and I will be very open to considering them … I am sure peers will now fulfil their role with great care and compassion, as they always do.”

With 190 peers signed up to speak, amendments to the legislation are possible, and any changes voted through in the Lords would then return to the House of Commons for consideration. A recent report from a Lords committee expressed concern that parts of the bill grant excessive power to ministers and appear to “sidestep parliament” on matters including which drugs could be used in assisted dying. Many procedural and practical details—such as where assisted dying would take place and how it would be funded—remain unresolved, raising uncertainty for hospices and healthcare providers.

Hospice UK has highlighted that adequate funding is crucial for the sector if assisted dying is to proceed. Current financial arrangements are due to expire next spring, including grants for children’s hospices and a £100 million bailout for capital spending. Toby Porter, chief executive of Hospice UK, warned: “Hospices are on the brink. Surging costs have led to many services being cut back—just as demand is rising, fast, because of our ageing population. As it stands, roughly two in five hospices are planning to make cuts this year.”

Porter also stressed that hospices are unclear about their role under the new legislation. “The bill being debated today in the House of Lords has huge ramifications for hospices and end-of-life care as a whole, yet it has no detail on where assisted dying would take place or how it would be funded. If assisted dying is to become law, it’s essential that hospices have the space and flexibility to determine what the bill means for the services they provide and the communities they serve.”

Hospices currently spend approximately £1.2 billion per year directly on care, with only £485 million funded by the government. Porter questioned the sustainability of introducing a state-funded assisted dying service while much of essential end-of-life care continues to rely on charitable donations.

The Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the sector’s concerns, emphasizing ongoing efforts to ensure the sustainability of palliative and end-of-life care. A spokesperson said: “We are working to make sure the palliative and end-of-life care sector is sustainable, as we shift more healthcare out of hospitals and into the community. We are also investing an extra £100 million to improve hospice facilities—which is the biggest investment in hospices in a generation.”

As the House of Lords prepares to debate the legislation, hospice leaders and healthcare experts will be closely monitoring developments. The outcome will not only determine the legal framework for assisted dying but could also have profound implications for the funding, operations, and survival of hospices across England.