Assisted dying would be free and provided through NHS, supporters say

must be available on the without charge if legalised, supporters have insisted after reports suggested it could be provided by private companies. An amendment could be tabled to the assisted dying Bill by MP Kim Leadbeater to stipulate these terms, according to the Times.

It is understood that she is determined that it should be provided through the NHS and free, however nothing has yet been drafted. One possibility is that the service could be contracted out by the NHS to private firms but remain free at the point of use. Concern about how the service would operate comes after Health Secretary last year claimed that NHS services could be cut if the law changes, as he made his opposition to the Bill clear.

When questioned by the Express about the basis of that claim, however, he admitted that no cost analysis had yet been carried out. Officials are understood to be preparing an impact assessment.

Ms Leadbeater’s Bill, which seeks to legalise assisted dying for terminally ill people in the last six months of life, is currently facing close scrutiny by a committee of MPs including both supporters and opponents.

The group debated an amendment last week that would have widened the eligibility criteria to 12 months’ life expectancy in cases where the patient has a neurodegenerative condition such as motor neurone disease.

Proposer Tom Gordon, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, described it as a “compassionate approach” but withdrew the amendment due to lack of support.

He said: “My priority is ensuring that we make progress on assisted dying legislation, and I do not want to risk delaying or jeopardising the Bill’s success by pushing for changes that might divide support at this crucial stage.”

It comes as a similar assisted dying Bill in the Isle of Man is due to face what could be a final vote in Tynwald’s upper house next Tuesday.

If members of the island’s Legislative Council agree to the final amendments, the Bill will be sent for Royal Assent and assisted dying could become available in 2027.