The adult social care sector is largely unprepared for the implementation of the Terminally Ill Adults (TIA) Bill, says Care England, the largest representative body for independent adult social care providers.
Ahead of the Bill’s second reading in the House of Lords on 12 September, the organisation surveyed providers to assess readiness and found the sector was ‘under consulted, uncertain, and unprepared for the Bill in its current form.’
The poll revealed that 84% of providers had not been consulted on the Bill, while only 14% of staff were willing to participate in its procedures, and 13% of care homes felt able to manage assisted dying.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Care England chief executive, said: ‘Our role is not to debate the principle of the Terminally Ill Adults Bill, but to ensure the care sector is ready should the legislation proceed. In its current form, and without clear guidance from Government, the Bill could present significant challenges for providers and staff working with people in care settings.
‘Engagement with the sector so far has been minimal, as our survey demonstrates. 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.’
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