**Assisted Dying in Wales: Senedd Retains Key Decision Over NHS Role**
The question of whether the Welsh NHS will participate in assisted dying for terminally ill patients remains unsettled, with Wales’s devolved parliament, the Senedd, set to exercise a pivotal vote on the issue later this year. This follows recent developments at UK Government level, where the House of Commons has endorsed an Assisted Dying Bill for England and Wales, sparking a new phase of debate and scrutiny across both nations.
While MPs at Westminster last week supported the controversial Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, the specifics of how this would apply in Wales are not yet determined. Health care is a devolved matter in Wales, meaning the Welsh Parliament has a deciding voice in whether new legislation, especially on ethically complex topics, extends to NHS Wales and related services.
Today, Wednesday 25 June, Julie James, the Counsel General and top legal adviser to the Welsh Government, confirmed in Senedd proceedings that the country’s health service will not be compelled to provide voluntary assisted dying for terminally ill adults unless the Welsh Parliament grants explicit approval. This assurance comes amid ongoing concerns about whether the voices and votes of Welsh Members of the Senedd (MSs) will be respected as the UK Government seeks to implement nationwide change.
The issue of assisted dying is deeply emotive and contentious. In October 2024, the Senedd previously voted against introducing such measures within Wales. Yet the matter has returned to the agenda as parliamentarians and devolved administrations grapple with the implications of new legislation from Westminster. There has been some unrest in Cardiff Bay, with some MSs seeking guarantees that Wales’s position will not be overridden.
Tom Giffard MS pressed the Counsel General during today’s session, probing whether discussions with the UK Government had secured a cast-iron guarantee that Senedd decisions will be honoured, especially if Wales comes to a different conclusion than Parliament. He queried: “Can you outline what discussions you have had with the UK Government to stand up for the voice of this Senedd, to ensure that we do have a say?” and further pressed for assurances that, should the Senedd disagree, its voice will be respected on the national stage.
Julie James offered a detailed reassurance to members, reiterating that the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill still contains clear stipulations: neither the NHS in Wales nor any other devolved public body can deliver voluntary assisted dying until Welsh ministers have set necessary regulations, and, crucially, until an affirmative vote takes place in the Senedd. This means that, unlike in England where the approval from Parliament would suffice for the NHS’s involvement, an explicit go-ahead in Wales is required from Welsh lawmakers.
As the debate draws further attention, campaigners both for and against assisted dying continue to make their cases known across the country. Outside legislative chambers, protests and counter-protests have been staged, evidencing the depth of feeling and division on the subject. Many advocate for personal autonomy and the reduction of suffering, while others express concerns about the risks to vulnerable groups and the broader ethical consequences.
A vote in the Welsh Parliament regarding the bill’s application to devolved services is expected this autumn. The outcome will have profound consequences not only for end-of-life care in Wales but also for the ongoing relationship between devolved and central UK governance. Should the Senedd rule against NHS participation—despite new laws elsewhere—it would present a rare and significant divergence between health policy in Wales and England.
In the meantime, Welsh citizens, health professionals and advocacy groups are urged to stay engaged with developments, as the upcoming vote will help shape not only public policy but also the national conversation about dignity, autonomy, and the final stages of life.
As the legislative process continues, attention will focus on how devolved democracy in Wales responds to one of the most personal and challenging dilemmas in modern healthcare. The Senedd’s decision and its consequences will undoubtedly be closely watched across the UK.