As the debate around assisted dying returns to Parliament, a new poll shows that the British public has other priorities.
While MPs prepare for the Lords’ first discussion of Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, most people say they want the government to focus on something far more immediate—cutting NHS waiting lists.
Poll Reveals Clear Priorities
The survey of 2,090 Britons, carried out by Whitestone Insight, found that just one in eight respondents believes legalising assisted dying should be a government priority.
By contrast, 70% said they want to see waiting times reduced.
When given 11 different policy areas to choose from, legalising assisted dying came out last, with only 13% naming it their top priority.
In comparison, 54% wanted guarantees of adequate ambulance services, 44% focused on improving cancer care, and many others highlighted better support for disabled people, children with special needs, mental health funding, and palliative care.
Lords Set to Debate Landmark Bill
The Bill, which passed the Commons in a historic vote in June, will be debated by peers for the first time on Friday.
A preliminary vote is scheduled for September 19, after which amendments can be proposed, leading up to a final decision later this year.
For now, the poll results suggest that while the subject is important to some, the broader public sees more pressing health challenges.
Government Spending Questioned
Health Secretary Wes Streeting recently suggested that funds used to implement assisted dying legislation could be better spent elsewhere.
The poll shows 63% of the public agreed with that statement.
Many feel money should go toward strengthening cancer care, boosting mental health services, and providing robust support for vulnerable groups.
Critics Warn of Risks
Dr Gordon Macdonald, chief executive of the group Care Not Killing, which commissioned the poll, said the findings were clear.
“Patients neither want nor need assisted dying.
They want the government to fix our broken NHS,” he said.
He argued that peers must carefully examine the Bill’s safeguards, which he believes fail to adequately protect elderly and disabled people—including those with hidden disabilities such as autism.
He stressed that universal access to high-quality palliative care should be secured before any change in law is considered.
“If these problems can’t be corrected,” Macdonald added, “then peers must resist pressure from campaigners driven by an extreme ideology and vote the Bill down.”
Psychiatrists Voice Serious Concerns
Adding to the resistance, more than 50 leading psychiatrists have written to peers ahead of the vote.
Their letter expressed “profound concern” about what they see as the ethical risks of changing the law.
They warned that legalising assisted dying would fundamentally alter the role of psychiatrists—from working to prevent suicide to being asked to assist in it.
They argued this would undermine their professional responsibilities and erode the trust that patients and society place in them.
What Happens Next
With the Lords’ first debate set to begin, the spotlight is on whether peers will side with campaigners pushing for change or with critics calling for caution.
For now, the public appears clear in its message: fix the NHS first.