Assisted dying is an incredibly emotional and often divisive issue, and we recognise the strength of feeling it brings on all sides of the debate.

Following Friday’s proceedings in the House of Lords, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill has not progressed and will not become law in this parliamentary session. We acknowledge that this outcome will be felt differently by many people — both those who supported the Bill and hoped it would offer greater choice at the end of life, and those who had concerns about its implications.

At Havens Hospices, our Purpose — Making every day count with expert, compassionate hospice care – for today’s families and tomorrow’s future — remains at the heart of everything we do. It ensures our focus stays on providing specialist care to people of all ages living with incurable conditions, and on supporting their families so they can make the most of every moment.

While the Bill has fallen, the conversation it has sparked about the quality and availability of end-of-life care needs to continue.

Hospices across the UK are under significant financial pressure. Around six in ten are currently considering or have already made cuts to their services — and Havens Hospices is no exception. We only receive 14% of our funding from the government to fund our free care, leaving us heavily reliant on the generosity of our local community. This is not enough to keep pace with growing demand and rising costs, and it is not a sustainable position for the hospice sector as a whole.

Palliative and end-of-life care must be better funded, more accessible, and available to all who need it. Should this legislation return to Parliament in the future, we would urge that any renewed debate is matched by real commitment to fairer, more sustainable funding for hospices — because without it, we cannot guarantee we will always be there for everyone who needs us.

We will always respect each person’s right to make their own decisions and pass no judgement on those choices. Whatever someone’s view on assisted dying, we remain committed to offering our care and support to anyone who needs us.

We continue to work with Hospice UK as they represent the sector’s voice in ongoing policy debates and will monitor future developments and consider how they may affect our care and purpose.

We believe that everyone deserves dignity, care and compassion at the end of life. That belief is the reason hospices like Havens Hospices exist, and it is the standard we will always strive to uphold.

Published 27 April 2026