Assisted dying law could come at expense of other NHS services, says Streeting
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Implementing a new assisted dying law could come at the expense of other NHS services, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has suggested. The Cabinet minister – who plans to vote against the assisted dying Bill when it is debated later this month – told Times Radio on Wednesday that “it would be a big change”. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m definitely voting against the Bill, but I have enormous respect for colleagues who are taking a different view.” Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has described her proposed legislation as the “most robust” in the world, and said she expects hundreds of dying people might initially opt to use a service which could see patients press a button to end their lives. “I personally will study the details of the Bill which has now been published today because safeguards have always been extremely important to me and were an essential part of the guidelines that I drew up when I was chief prosecutor.” Sir Keir has previously supported assisted dying but the Government has pledged to remain neutral on the issue and all MPs will be able to vote according to their conscience, rather than along party lines.