Member

Family members, carers and friends must not be forgotten. They need support while their loved one is going through the procedure and after death. A demedicalised model could include the offer of bereavement counselling. Such services could be extended to those who were not party to the person’s decision that they wanted to die but who then find out afterwards and feel excluded. It is highly unlikely that these wraparound services would be available within the NHS, or that taxpayers would be willing to fund them. Why then leave such services and care to charities and private organisations, while setting up a fully funded dying service within a health service? In my advertising days, I would have said that this goes against the NHS’s brand guidelines and values. My amendments offer another alternative, and I hope the noble and learned Lord will take the opportunity to clarify this in his response.