Professor Sir Mike Richards was a hospital physician for more than 20 years. He was a consultant medical oncologist between 1986 and 1995, and Professor of Palliative Medicine at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals between 1995 and 1999. In 1999 Sir Mike was appointed the National Cancer Director at the Department of Health, where he led the development and implementation of the NHS Cancer Plan in 2000, the Cancer Reform Strategy in 2007 and Improving Outcomes: A strategy for cancer in 2011. Between 2013 and 2017 he was the Care Quality Commission’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals. He later led reviews of adult screening and diagnostic services for NHS England. In April 2022 he was appointed as Chair of the UK National Screening Committee.
The Assisted Dying Bill currently going through its parliamentary stages has shone a spotlight on the quality of care given to people approaching the end of their lives. This has been further amplified by the recent horrific accounts of patients dying on
