A TORY MP has called for more help and support to be given to hospices, rather than people who support euthanasia.

David Amess, Conservative MP for Southend West, spoke out in the wake of an influential report advising the Government to consider legalising euthanasia for the terminally-ill.

The independent Commission on Assisted Dying, whose members include several prominent peers and medics, wants GPs to be able to prescribe lethal doses of medication for dying people to take themselves.

However Mr Amess, who is known for his pro-life mindset, said such a move would undermine efforts to improve hospices.

Speaking in the House of Commons, he said: “Britain is at the scientific forefront of palliative medicine, meaning the care we can offer will only improve as advances are made.

“If we can offer this world-leading end-of-life care, why are we looking to euthanasia as an alternative solution?

“We can do even more with end-of-life care than we are doing at the moment.”

Under British law, helping someone die is punishable by up to 14 years in prison and police are instructed to investigate all possible cases.

The commission’s report, published earlier this month, recommended allowing doctors to prescribe drugs which would end the lives of patients, as long as they have fewer than 12 months to live and are judged to be mentally capable.

However, Mr Amess said a bigger concern was that approximately 700 people a year die in every Parliamentary constituency without access to the help they need.

He called for more support for hospice initiatives which aim to care for the terminally-ill in their own homes, rather than taking them to hospital.

Mr Amess was backed by Havens Hospices, which runs hospices for adults and children in Westcliff and Thundersley respectively.

Wendy Dodds, Havens director of care, said: “This is something we wholeheartedly endorse and are very active in supporting.

“Each year, our staff provide care and support to hundreds of people in our local community.

“Our services also work in partnership with NHS community services so that, wherever possible, people who are approaching the end of their lives receive this care in the place of their choice.”