S itting at his wife’s bedside, Len was grateful she was in the care of end-of-life experts in her last days. In the softly lit, tranquil room, he could spend as much time with Adela as possible, staying overnight on a pull-out bed if he wanted to, while waiting for her inevitable release from cancer. “We were told in July that chemo was no longer working and her life was now limited,” he said.
At home, Adela had become “weaker and weaker”, unable to manage the stairs to the bathroom. Eventually, it was suggested she be admitted to St Joseph’s hospice in Hackney, east London . Neither had been inside a hospice before.
Despite the circumstances, Len was comfortable with their decision. “To be honest, it’s like being in the best private hospital,” he said. “She is getting the best care possible.
” The role of hospices such as St Joseph’s has become a key part of the debate on whether to legalise assisted dying. MPs will vote on a private member’s bill later this month. If it is passed, the bill will begin a lengthy process through parliament before it can become law.
It is a highly charged debate, with strong views on both sides and intensive lobbying of MPs – who will vote according to their conscience – by campaigners. One of the key arguments put forward by opponents is that the state should pump more funds into services that provide end-of-life care rather than sanction euthanasia. Some MPs have called for a commission on palliative care.
Suppor.
