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Members of the Senedd have voted to support plans that would allow Welsh ministers to shape how assisted dying services could operate on the NHS in Wales if UK legislation on the issue is approved.
The legislative consent motion linked to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill passed by 28 votes to 23, with 2 abstentions, on 24 February 2026.
The bill, which is currently going through the Westminster parliament, would allow terminally ill adults to request medical assistance to end their life under defined safeguards. It is currently being examined by peers in the House of Lords.
The Senedd vote has no bearing on the law on assisted dying, which, if passed, would affect both England and Wales. Welsh parliament members were asked whether Welsh ministers should have powers to design and oversee how any future service would be organised in NHS Wales, including regulation, guidance and oversight.
If the bill becomes law, Senedd members would need to vote again after the Welsh elections in May 2026 before services could be introduced in Wales.
During the debate, members were given a free vote, resulting in divisions within Labour, Conservative and Plaid Cymru groups.
Speaking during the debate, Welsh health secretary Jeremy Miles said details of how services would operate are not yet set out in the legislation.
“It is challenging, therefore, to anticipate exactly how such arrangements might interact with Welsh law and policy,” he told members
Miles added that parliamentary scrutiny is ongoing, with more than 1,000 amendments proposed while the bill is considered in the Lords.
Ministers said that without the powers set out in the motion, assisted dying could still be offered by private providers, or patients might need to travel to England to access services.
Geraldine McCaffrey, director of Wales at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), said: “Last night’s vote does not in itself introduce assisted dying services in Wales, as the bill must still pass through the UK Parliament and any NHS service would depend on decisions taken by the next Welsh government after the Senedd election in May [2026].
“[The] RPS has adopted a neutral stance on the principle of assisted dying, but we have worked to secure protections for pharmacists who choose not to participate, and an exemption is included in the current draft legislation which applies to pharmacists in both England and Wales.
“If the bill progresses and the next Welsh government brings forward proposals for assisted dying services provided through the NHS, we will engage with the Welsh government and members of the Senedd on how any services are designed and implemented.”
Russell Goodway, chief executive at Community Pharmacy Wales, commented: “It’s important to note that last night’s Senedd vote was an in‑principle vote on legislative consent, and there remains a long and complex process before any NHS‑funded assisted dying service could be established.
“Based on what is currently known, it is not anticipated that community pharmacy would be directly involved in the delivery of any such service should the legislation ultimately progress.”
Survey results published by The Pharmaceutical Journal in November 2025 revealed that 54% (n=408) of pharmacist respondents supported assisted dying. Just over one-third (35%; n=267) said they did not support the principle, while 11% (n=80) said they were unsure of their position.
