A Bill to confer on patients a right to choose where to receive palliative care; and for connected purposes.
The Bill would make provision for patients to request where they received palliative care: in a hospital or specialist hospital, in a hospice or at home. It would require the relevant NHS body to take all reasonable steps to fulfil such requests. The Bill also makes provision for regulations governing standards of palliative care, which is defined in the Bill as 'care given with the intention of improving the quality of life of persons with a terminal illness.'
House of Commons
14 October 2009
The bill would give patients the right to choose where they receive palliative care (hospital, hospice, or at home). NHS bodies would have to take reasonable steps to meet those requests. It would also set minimum standards for palliative care through regulations, defining palliative care as care aimed at improving quality of life for people with a terminal illness.
The bill is currently at the second reading in the House of Commons and will need to pass through further stages (committee, report, and third reading) before moving to the Lords.
Generated 21 February 2026
The Bill was debated at Second Reading on 24 April. The House of Commons voted against the Bill being sent to a Public Bill Committee. There will be no future business on this Bill in the current Session.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
