Care sector says homes ‘dangerously unprepared’ ahead of assisted dying debate
Survey by Care England finds 84% of providers were not consulted on Terminally Ill Adults Bill and many staff unwilling or unsure about taking part
Care homes are overwhelmingly unprepared for the legalisation of assisted dying, the largest representative body for independent social care services warned, after a survey found most providers were not consulted about Labour’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill.
Care England said 84% of providers polled reported they had not been consulted about the Bill or its implications, and that the sector was left “under consulted, uncertain, and unprepared.” The organisation said its findings raise serious questions about how care homes would handle requests for assisted death if the legislation becomes law.
The survey, published ahead of a scheduled House of Lords debate, found staff attitudes varied markedly. Only 14% of care staff said they would be willing to participate in an assisted dying procedure, while 34% said they would play no part. Just 13% of providers said they could manage assisted dying within their care homes.
Care England, which says it takes no position on the principle of the Bill, warned that implementation could “present significant challenges for providers and staff working with people in care settings.” The organisation highlighted concerns about division within workforces, existing high vacancy rates and low retention, and the practicalities of creating safe and consistent systems across thousands of care homes.
"Engagement with the sector so far has been minimal, as our survey demonstrates," Professor Martin Green, chief executive of Care England, said in a statement. "What is needed now is not rhetoric, but a precise, coherent, and actionable roadmap for delivery. The sector cannot afford to wait until after the Bill passes to begin these critical discussions. Without a detailed plan of implementation that recognises the sector’s existing challenges and complexities, providers remain uncertain of their role and dangerously unprepared for what lies ahead."
Other findings from the poll showed 24% of providers expected staffing to become "very difficult" because some employees would conscientiously object to assisting deaths, and 16% said they were unsure whether the purpose of care homes would be undermined by the legislation. Providers raised practical and ethical concerns about separating staff who would assist deaths from those who would not.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, introduced by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, would allow terminally ill adults in England and Wales with fewer than six months to live to apply for an assisted death. The proposal requires approval from two doctors and an expert panel. The Bill passed a historic vote in the House of Commons in June and is due for its first House of Lords debate on Friday; the first Lords vote is expected on Sept. 19, with peers then able to propose amendments and a final vote to follow.
The paper version of the Bill sets an implementation period of four years after receiving Royal assent, meaning the earliest a lawful assisted death would take place under the current timetable is 2029 if the legislation passes all remaining stages this year.
Care providers and sector representatives have repeatedly called for detailed planning, funding and clear guidance to be published well before any law comes into force. They say such steps are necessary to protect staff, residents and families and to ensure consistent care across the social care sector.
The government and parliamentary authorities will consider amendments and safeguards as the Bill progresses through the Lords. Peers are expected to scrutinise the operational details of implementation, including how conscientious objection will be managed and what support will be available to social care providers adapting to the new legal framework.