The 83-year-old said dying at home “is best” and revealed that one ambulance service, North East, has dedicated three vehicles to making sure patients are able to chose where they die.

“This is, of course, primarily home, but people have gone to have a last look at the sea, and someone even asked for a detour to see the Angel of the North,” she said.

The Lincolnshire policy, which mimics common practice in Australia, states that a registered community nurse or a Marie Curie rapid response team must be ready to step in if the nominated friend of family member no longer wants to provide the injections.

It warns clinicians to check that volunteer carers do not have a history of substance misuse, and that they will themselves be able to cope physically with administering medication.

Baroness Bakewell said that while many people prefer the idea of passing away in their sleep, she favoured “being awake at the end, possibly with some favourite Mozart playing in the background.

“Music could play an important part,” she said.

“A mixture of good memories and soothing nerves.”

Around 50 per cent of people die currently die in hospital.

Earlier this year the General Medical Council called for a dramatic improvement in training of end-of-life care teaching for junior doctors.