A former MP and doctor who spent five years chairing one of Westminster’s most influential committees has been brought in to oversee the introduction of assisted dying in Jersey.
Dr Sarah Wollaston – who has 24 years’ experience working in hospital and primary care – will chair the new body responsible for ensuring the controversial service is introduced safely and in accordance with the law.
The appointment represents another significant step towards assisted dying becoming a reality in the Island, following years of political and public debate. So who is the woman who will now play a key role in making it happen? Express explores…
From GP… to Westminster
Dr Wollaston worked as a doctor for 24 years across hospital and primary care settings, including caring for patients at the end of their lives.
She also worked as a medical educator and examiner for the Royal College of General Practitioners before entering politics.
Dr Wollaston was elected as an MP in 2010 and remained in Parliament until 2019.
She chaired the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee between 2014 and 2019, having previously served as a member of the committee.
More recently, she became the inaugural chair of NHS Devon, where she helped establish its new board and worked with local government, voluntary organisations and other bodies to coordinate health and care services – but stepped down in 2024, saying she felt unable “to sign off on a further cut”, describing the service’s “elastic” as having been “already stretched too far”.
She currently chairs Devon charity LandWorks on a voluntary basis and is a member of Lustleigh Parish Council.
What will she actually do?
Dr Wollaston will chair Jersey’s Assisted Dying Assurance and Delivery Committee – a new body whose existence is required under the Island’s recently approved law.
It will be responsible for overseeing implementation and providing independent assurance to the Health Minister about the quality and safety of the eventual service.
The committee will have between seven and 15 members, including someone from end-of-life or palliative care services and a representative of patients or their relatives.
Recruitment for those positions is expected to begin in the coming months.
Dr Wollaston said she was “honoured” to have been appointed to the role.
She added that she wanted the new service to be “compassionate and lawful”, with “well-trained and supported staff, and that everyone involved keeps patients and their loved ones at the heart of everything we all do”.
When will the assisted dying service officially begin in Jersey?
Jersey’s assisted-dying law received Royal Assent in July, having been backed by the States by 32 votes to 16 in February following an eight-year journey towards legislation.
However, the service is not expected to begin operating until late 2027, with September 2027 regarded as the earliest likely start date.
Before then, Health needs to recruit and train specialist staff, produce clinical guidance and service standards, finish establishing its oversight arrangements and prepare information for Islanders.
Under the law, assisted dying will be restricted to mentally competent adults aged 18 or over who have been ordinarily resident in Jersey for at least 12 months.
Despite its approval, legislation has remained contentious, however.
Following Royal Assent, the Catholic Bishop of Portsmouth described Jersey’s decision as a “terrifying development” and argued that the service would place an “immoral and unacceptable demand” on medical professionals.
Health Minister Tom Binet said this afternoon that Dr Wollaston’s appointment would help ensure “robust safeguards, effective governance and patient safety remain central” as the Island works towards implementation.
“Dr Wollaston brings extensive clinical experience, a strong understanding of health and care governance and a proven track record of public service,” he commented.
“Her role will be to provide independent assurance as the Committee oversees the implementation of the law approved by the Assembly… I look forward to working with Dr Wollaston and the Committee as they undertake this important responsibility,” he added.
