Terminally Ill People End of Life Options 2021-01-12
2021-01-12
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question arises from a need to gather more data on experiences of terminally ill individuals to better inform future debates and policies regarding their options at the end of life.
What plans does he have to improve the evidence base for future debates on the options available for terminally ill people at the end of their life?
Care at the end of life is a crucial part of our health and care system, and we are committed to improving the quality of care for those at the end of life. Current practice is informed by a range of evidence, including guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. The Government are open to gathering data on the experiences of terminally ill people in order to inform the debate.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer avoids providing specific plans or commitments for improving the evidence base, only stating openness to gathering more data without a concrete timeline or mechanism.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The question stems from a concern about the high percentage of suicides by people who are terminally ill and seeks to understand the extent of these tragedies through better data collection and analysis.
May I also express my gratitude to the NHS in all its many forms for their hard work over Christmas and new year, including giving me a new knee? To add to knowledge, information and understanding, will the Secretary of State and his Department make a point of working with coroners and the Office for National Statistics from across the country so that we can understand the true extent of these tragedies?
I am very happy to look at the suggestion that my right hon. Friend makes on this very sensitive subject. We want to see the highest possible standards of patient safety and, of course, to reduce the number of suicides, and it is important in pursuing that to have as much information and evidence as possible.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer does not provide a specific commitment or plan for working with coroners and ONS; instead, it expresses willingness to consider the suggestion without concrete next steps.
Response accuracy