Professor of Hospice Practice and Evidence Synthesis @HealthSciYork @UniOfYork. Often seen on a bike. All views my own.
Joined December 2010
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Kate Flemming retweeted
If you're in York or nearby this week, please come and join me on Friday to talk about how we build a good society:
york.ac.uk/news-and-events/e…
Kate Flemming retweeted
Today is the day! My #book is finally out. Are you planning on a healthier #NewYear2026? Start the #NewYear off right and learn why the world you live in is as important as any #NewYearsResolutions you make to stay #healthy! amzn.to/4pi7oGa #NewBook #AuthorLife #writing
Kate Flemming retweeted
Don't just take my word for it. A huge thank you to @MichaelMarmot @Mumtaz_Patel_1 @ktflemm and @josephbush who have already read and reviewed it. See what they have to say about why this is a book to read in #NewYear2026! #Medtwitter #pharmacy #nursing #WritingCommunity #Health
Kate Flemming retweeted
📢Do you work in virtual wards / hospital at home services? Share your experiences for research which aims to improve access to medication.
University of Southampton are investigating access to medication for people in the last year of life in these services, in a Marie Curie-funded research project. If you work in these services, we'd love to hear from you.
👉Please complete this short survey and share with colleagues. southampton.qualtrics.com/jf…
ALT An graphic of medicines inside a house, symbolising access to medicines 24 / 7 and at home.
Kate Flemming retweeted
Myself & @Sarah_Stan_ are delighted to announce that the Palliative Care Journal Club Toolkit is now available on the @mariecurieuk website.
Chat to us during the @hospiceuk conference for more information. Come to our lunchtime session on 26/11
mariecurie.org.uk/research-a…
#hapc
Kate Flemming retweeted
My article in today’s Sunday Times @thetimes about how ethnic minorities are treated in an already overstretched health system and my fears that the rushed
#AssistedDyingBill will exacerbate health inequalities thetimes.com/uk/politics/art… looks like this on the page
#buyApaper
Kate Flemming retweeted
Nothing to see here. Just an article saying palliative care services may be cut to ‘balance books’ a week after the TIA Bill Impact Assessment laid out how much money assisted dying will save the NHS.
NHS plans 'unthinkable' cuts to balance books bbc.in/453apmB
Kate Flemming retweeted
The rejection of the amendment to allow hospices & care homes to opt out of assisted dying will have complex impact
One that shouldn’t be overlooked is the impact on those who are fearful of being pressured into AD and so will be fearful of accessing these places of care…and in the case of hospices gold-standard care for those with the most sig need
We can’t avert our eyes from the needs of such groups&only consider those who want AD
There is lots we can do to bridge this gap but so far supporters of the #AssistedDyingBill seem to be sticking to minimising any concerns
Our letter in @thetimes highlights this
And as always I’m happy to discuss how this can be done @kimleadbeater 🙏🏽
Important letter in @thetimes from @JamillaHussain1 and others about the risks the Terminally Ill Adults Bill poses to marginalised groups.
“Legislation that aims to offer dignity in death must not deepen inequality in life”
Kate Flemming retweeted
This is huge
Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK, did a great job of clearly pointing out the complexity of hospices not having the oppo to opt out
If some staff don’t want to be involved
And managers/trustees do (esp if it impacts finances)
What to do? You can’t run the service without staff…you have to look after them
If hospices/care homes can’t opt out, what can the staff do? The evidence from other countries shows taking part in AD affects staff in a sig way, it is distinct from any other part of clinical practice, it feels and is different, AND causes a lot of moral distress esp when those most vulnerable are not adequately safeguarded (ie they ‘choose’ AD cos they can’t make ends meet/not wanting to burden their kids who are disabled and struggling themselves/domestic abuse victims wanting a way out)
I wouldn’t be someone who consciously objects to being involved from a pall care perspective … and the vast majority of my colleagues are not against AD in principle … but the lack of safeguards in this bill esp for the most vulnerable, the lack of acknowledgement of why relying on training/clinician or remote panel judgement is wholly inadequate, will make it really hard/not possible for us to shoulder that burden.
Which means, again, both those wanting AD and those not will be impacted negatively
#AssistedDyingBill
Attempting to distance the Government from this doesn't really work. Yesterday, the Committee rejected amendments that would make clear that no hospice would be required to take part in assisted suicide and that no hospice would suffer detriment (i.e. have its funding cut) for refusing to be involved.
Kate Flemming retweeted
Yes no opt out for hospices and no protection against public funding being linked to provision of assistance to end patients lives
Kate Flemming retweeted
And I’d be delighted to speak to @kimleadbeater and her team directly to share my work and expertise
Genuine offer
I was one of those at this meeting to discuss the potential impacts of #AssistedDying for disadvantaged women
I was told who was invited before hand&assured it aimed to be a safe space
I paid £200+ personally to go in person as I wanted to be able to assess the safety myself before sharing insights from my work&lived experience
When I was told what had happened&i am grateful for @Jess4Lowestoft’s candour- it did make me feel violated…&naive for thinking it was a safe space. I probably wouldn’t have said anything different but knowing who was there mattered.
It dawned on me that at this stage this isn’t about serious debate & consideration of a hugely complex multifaceted issue- but politics
It’s important citizens can share their insights with decision makers safely-I will definitely have to think again about doing so…which undermines the quality of the process/decision making imo
Kate Flemming retweeted
Great piece by @doctor_oxford on how it felt to be called to give evidence… and how this #AssistedDyingBill can be strengthened
Rachel Clarke, @doctor_oxford, who gave evidence to the assisted dying bill committee, writes about that experience and how the new “Judge Plus” proposal is nothing near an MDT.
thetimes.com/article/5188f45…,
Kate Flemming retweeted
Me & many other disabled people @TheNotDeadYetUK have been making this #noise & opposing the legalisation of assisted suicide for years
And until our voice, our concerns, our fears have truly been heard, we will keep making the noise & I'll keep posting:
bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0…
Amidst the noise in the debate around choice at the end of life, it is the voices of brave people like @JamestheTJ & Pat Malone that need to be heard. Pat’s evidence to the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill Committee demonstrates exactly why the law needs to change.
Kate Flemming retweeted
Read and watch this whole thread, but in particular watch Dr Jamilla Hussain explain that individual stories, while important, are not enough. We have to consider the population as a whole when considering law change.
Kate Flemming retweeted
Massive u-turn this morning from Kim Leadbeater MP, after she and 13 others (including two government ministers) voted expressly to bar Royal College of Psychiatrists from giving oral evidence yesterday.
Welcome @kimleadbeater adding @rcpsych to the witness list for her PMB for Terminally ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, thank you 🙏🏽
Kate Flemming retweeted
This number also very revealing of quite how stacked the odds are in this Committee. On the question of should the Royal College of Psychiatrists be called as a witness, they voted 14 (including two Ministers) to 8 AGAINST. What hope for amendments the sponsor doesn’t approve of?
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Kate Flemming retweeted
Our report exploring NHS perspectives on policing and mental health, and the implementation of #rightcarerightperson - @UniOfYork report here york.ac.uk/media/healthscien… and a summary here kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and…
Kate Flemming retweeted
Today’s vote marks a pivotal moment. What's encouraging is the broad agreement on the urgent need to improve access to high-quality palliative and end-of-life care and to ensure fairer funding for hospices.
A momentous day in Parliament, whatever happens next - BBC News
Kate Flemming retweeted
Our statement @hospiceuk after this afternoon’s vote
hospiceuk.org/latest-from-ho…
Kate Flemming retweeted
If the debate today has you thinking about your own wishes, then consider looking at our advance care online tool: Planning Ahead. It takes you through the kinds of things to consider when thinking about death and dying, and who to speak to about it advancecareplanning.org.uk/p…