The current study aims to investigate the potential impact of the proposed Assisted Dying (Terminally Ill Adults (2024) Bill on Palliative care workers. Palliative care professionals across the Humber Health Partnership will be interviewed using semi-structured interview questions, with the intention of exploring the way they make sense of the potential implementation of the bill, particularly in relation to their professional identity. The research will be carried out in line with guidance for Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, Flowers & Larkin, 2021), a research methodology which aims to explore how people make sense of their experience, often in response to a particular event.

It is hoped that the study will contribute to the ongoing discussions regarding how the bill should be implemented and offer potential insights into ways that hospitals may best support staff during the passing of the bill into law. The study will be sponsored by Hull University Teaching Hospitals Trust (HUTH).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Palliative care staff, including Palliative nurses, Doctors and Consultants.
• Registered with the appropriate professional registration body
• Must have been in qualified position and working in palliative care for at least 6 months
• Must have worked with palliative patients in the last three months
• Fluency in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• No direct contact with patients
• Must be in a directly caring role within the team (does not include administrative or housekeeping staff).

Palliative Care staff working with Hull University Teaching Hospitals Trust