Assisted Dying on Welsh NHS a Step Closer After Senedd Vote

Published: 25 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Wales has taken a significant step toward ensuring assisted dying services could be provided through the National Health Service after the Senedd — the Welsh Parliament — voted in favour of a Legislative Consent Motion giving its consent for Westminster’s proposed assisted dying legislation to apply to Wales. The vote, held on 24 February 2026, saw 28 Members of the Senedd (MSs) support the motion, 23 oppose it and two abstain, signalling political willingness in Cardiff to align health provisions with potential UK‑wide law.

The motion does not itself legalise assisted dying; that power remains with the UK Parliament at Westminster. The bill in question — the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill — is currently progressing through the House of Lords and, if passed, would permit mentally competent adults with a terminal illness to choose a medically assisted death under strict safeguards. Because criminal law — including provisions around assisted dying — is not devolved to Wales, the Senedd cannot independently change the law but must agree to consent, enabling Welsh ministers to implement and regulate services locally through NHS Wales if the UK law comes into force.

Supporters of the motion argued the vote was necessary to avoid creating a “two‑tier system” in which terminally ill people in Wales might otherwise have to travel to England or resort to private providers to access assisted dying. Advocates have described the decision as a constitutional and healthcare milestone for Wales, enabling the country to shape how services are delivered — including ensuring access in Welsh and through Welsh healthcare structures — if the legislation becomes law.

Opposition within the Senedd was visible, with some members expressing ethical reservations and concerns about the pace and constitutional implications of consenting to the Westminster bill. First Minister Eluned Morgan and Health Secretary Jeremy Miles were among those who opposed the motion, reflecting ongoing internal debate about assisted dying.

The Senate’s vote reverses earlier Senedd decisions that rejected assisted dying in principle, most recently in October 2024, illustrating how the political context has shifted as legislative proposals have advanced at Westminster. Should the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill complete its passage through Parliament and become law, the Senedd vote ensures Welsh ministers will have the authority to implement assisted dying within NHS Wales rather than leaving access solely to private providers.

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