Simon Chapman spent 12 years in private practice as a barrister before leaving the law behind in 2002 to work in the voluntary sector. He initially worked as a consultant for NCPC as well as other third sector organisations, before joining them full time in 2009. He is now Director of Policy, Intelligence & Public Affairs for NCPC and the Dying Matters coalition.
He has written extensively on palliative and end of life care, and speaks regularly at conferences across the country. He led NCPC’s successful manifesto campaigns in 2005, 2010 and (in partnership with the end of life care coalition) in 2015, which have contributed to the growing cross-party and government recognition of the importance of end of life care. His current priorities include ensuring that end of life care is seen as a core priority for government, decision-makers and organisations at every level, and ensuring that the reformed structures in health and social care will produce improved outcomes for people approaching the end of life and their carers and families.
Simon was a member of the independent panel appointed by the government to review choice in end of life care in 2015, and was also on the steering group for the National Palliative and End of Life Care Coalition that published the new Ambitions framework in 2015. In addition to policy issues, he has written a great deal on advance care planning, the Mental Capacity Act, and ethics-related issues in end of life care.
In 2014 he was elected as a trustee of National Voices, the national coalition of health and social care charities in England.
When not working he enjoys playing cricket, building bonfires and sandcastles with his sons, and walking their lurcher.
