Hospice Care UK: What It Is, Who Can Use It and How to Ask

In short: Hospice care UK services support people with a terminal or life-limiting illness and their families, and the NHS states that hospice care is free to patients (as at November 2026). It can start early, does not have to be continuous, and can be given at home, in a care home or at a hospice. Your GP, district nurse or hospital team can usually refer you, and some hospices accept self-referral.

What is a hospice and what is hospice care UK families can use?

A hospice is a service that looks after people with an incurable illness and the people close to them, and the NHS describes hospice care as a style of care rather than a building. If you are asking what is a hospice, the short answer is a team of specialists, not only a place with beds. The NHS states that hospice care aims to improve the lives of people who have an incurable illness (NHS website, as at November 2026).

The care covers physical, emotional, social, practical, psychological and spiritual needs. It also covers the needs of family and carers, and it continues into bereavement. Hospice teams can include doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, social workers, therapists, counsellors, chaplains and trained volunteers.

Hospice care UK services can be given at home, in a care home or as a day patient visiting a hospice. Many hospices aim to feel calmer and more homely than a hospital, and staff are usually happy to explain what they offer or show you around before you decide anything.

What hospice care UK teams provide

Most hospices offer medical and nursing care, including pain and symptom management, and many add other services. What hospice care UK providers offer differs from one hospice to the next, so it is worth asking your local hospice for its current list. The main types of support are set out below.

Inpatient care

Some people stay at a hospice for a few days or weeks while they need specialist care, for example when pain or breathlessness is hard to control. Afterwards many people go home again, and they can return later if needed. Marie Curie describes these stays as being for as long as you need specialist care.

Day services

You can visit during the day without staying overnight. Marie Curie lists support groups, exercise programmes, art or music therapy, complementary therapies, counselling and spiritual support as examples. Day services can also give a carer a few hours free.

Community and home care

Hospice nurses and healthcare assistants can visit people at home, often called hospice at home, and occupational therapists can assess equipment and home adaptations. Our guide to hospice care at home explains this in more detail.

Outpatient and specialist support

Some hospices offer rehabilitation such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, complementary therapies such as massage, financial information, and spiritual or psychological help. Not every hospice offers every service.

Family support and bereavement

Hospices support family members, and Hospice UK notes that children and family therapists can support families from the time of illness through bereavement. Bereavement support can be individual counselling or group sessions, and some hospices offer it even if the person who died was not their patient.

Short breaks for carers

Some hospices offer short stays so that family or carers can have a break. The NHS states that not all hospices offer this, so ask locally.

Who can be referred to hospice care, and by whom

Hospice care is for people with a terminal illness or a life-limiting condition, and a GP, district nurse or hospital team usually makes the referral. Marie Curie lists examples such as advanced cancer, dementia, motor neurone disease, lung disease, Parkinson’s and advanced heart disease. Hospice UK adds liver and renal failure, COPD and frailty, and says hospice care is also available for children and young people.

People who can ask about a referral include:

• your GP
• a district nurse
• a hospital consultant or hospital team
• care home staff

Hospice care UK referral routes are flexible, so you do not always need to wait for a professional to suggest it. The NHS states that you can contact a hospice yourself, although the team will usually also ask for a referral from your doctor or nurse. Marie Curie says some hospices accept self-referral, while others need a doctor or nurse to refer you or check your medical history. Hospice UK adds that hospices which take self-referrals will usually speak to the person’s doctor first.

Places are limited. If no bed is free, Marie Curie says you may be offered day sessions or a waiting list, or your GP or district nurse can suggest other support. If you are caring for someone, you may also want to ask your council for a carer’s assessment at the same time.

Hospice vs palliative care vs care home

Palliative care is the broader term, hospice care is one way of delivering it, and a care home is a place where someone lives. Understanding the difference helps when professionals use the words interchangeably.

Hospice and palliative care

Palliative care means treatment, care and support for people with a terminal illness and their families, and it can be given at any stage, not only at the end of life. Hospice UK says hospice care is also known as palliative care. GPs, district nurses, hospital staff and care home staff can provide some palliative care, and they bring in a hospice or specialist palliative care team when more specialist support is needed. Our guide to palliative and end of life care covers the terms in more depth.

Hospice vs care home

When comparing hospice vs care home, the main point is that they do different jobs. A care home provides a place to live with day-to-day personal care, and some also provide nursing. A hospice provides specialist palliative care, either in its own building, at your home or in a care home. The NHS lists a care home as one of the places where hospice care can be given. Marie Curie notes that some care homes have palliative care beds, which may be an option if no hospice bed is free. See palliative care in care homes for how this works.

Moving into a hospice is not usually a permanent move in the way that moving into a care home is. Inpatient stays are often short, with many people returning home.

Is hospice care free? How hospices are funded

Yes, the NHS states that hospice care is free, paid for through a combination of NHS funding and public donation (as at November 2026). Marie Curie and Hospice UK both describe hospice care as free to patients, and Hospice UK says it is free for carers and family members too.

Hospice care UK funding includes public donation, which is why local fundraising matters to hospices. This is also why services differ by area: each hospice decides what it can offer within its funding.

Hospice UK notes that whether you pay for other types of care depends on the care needed, where you live and your circumstances. If you are considering a care home or private nursing alongside hospice support, costs for those services are separate. Ask the hospice, your GP or your council what applies in your situation.

Common myths about hospice care

The biggest myth is that hospice care is only for the last days of life, and the NHS and Marie Curie both say this is not true. These hospice care UK myths are drawn from those sources.

• Myth: you only go to a hospice to die. Hospice care can start from diagnosis and a hospice can support you at any stage of your illness. Hospice UK says it can be provided at any stage, not just at the end of life.
• Myth: it must be continuous. The NHS states that care does not have to be continuous, and people can take breaks when they are stable and well. Some people have several separate periods of hospice care.
• Myth: a hospice is a building. The NHS describes hospice care as a style of care that can take place at home, in a care home or at a hospice.
• Myth: it is only for cancer. The sources list dementia, heart, lung, kidney and liver conditions, motor neurone disease and Parkinson’s among those who can receive hospice care.
• Myth: it is only for older adults. Hospice UK states that hospice care is available to adults, young adults and children.

What a first contact with a hospice looks like

A first contact with hospice care UK services is usually a conversation, and you can start it with a phone call to your local hospice or with your GP or district nurse. Nobody has to commit to anything at this stage.

1. Find your local hospice. Ask your GP or district nurse, or use the Hospice UK care finder, which lists adult and children’s hospices near you.
2. Contact the hospice or ask for a referral. You can call the hospice yourself, and the team will usually also ask your doctor or nurse for a referral.
3. Share some background. Have the diagnosis, current medicines and the name of the GP to hand. The team may check the person’s medical history with the doctor.
4. Talk through what would help. This might be symptom control, day sessions, nurse visits at home, or support for a carer. Care is tailored to the person, with a focus on dignity, respect and their wishes.
5. Ask about availability. If a place is not free straight away, ask about day sessions, a waiting list or other local support.

If the person is already under a hospital or community palliative care team, that team can often make the introduction for you. Our guide to palliative care at home explains what community support can look like while you wait.

Differences in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

This guide describes England first, and hospice services and funding arrangements are organised separately in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The overall idea of hospice care is the same across the UK, and the Hospice UK care finder covers hospices across the UK.

The detail of how local hospices are funded, what they offer and how referrals work can differ by nation and by area. We have not verified nation-by-nation figures or rules for this guide, so check with your local hospice, GP or health board or trust for what applies where you live.

This is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Speak to your GP, district nurse or the hospice team about the right care for your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Is hospice care only for the last days of life?

No. The NHS and Marie Curie both say this is a myth. Hospice care can help with symptoms such as pain or breathlessness early in an illness, and people can have several separate periods of care. It does not have to be continuous, and people can take breaks when they are well.

Do I need a referral to use a hospice?

Usually a GP, district nurse or hospital team refers you. The NHS says you can contact a hospice yourself, but the team will normally also ask for a referral from your doctor or nurse. Marie Curie says some hospices accept self-referral and others do not, so ask your local hospice.

Do patients or families pay for hospice care?

The NHS states that hospice care is free, paid for through a combination of NHS funding and public donation. Hospice UK says it is free for patients, their carers and family members. Costs for other services, such as a private care home, are separate, so check what applies to you.

What is the difference between a hospice and a care home?

A care home is a place to live with personal care, and sometimes nursing. A hospice provides specialist palliative care, in its own building, at home or in a care home. Inpatient hospice stays are often short, and many people return home afterwards.

Can hospice care be given at home?

Yes. The NHS says hospice care can be given at home, in a care home or as a day patient. Hospice nurses and healthcare assistants can visit people at home, and occupational therapists can assess equipment and adaptations. What is offered locally varies, so ask your hospice or district nurse.

What does a hospice do for family members?

Hospices support family members and carers as well as the patient. Hospice UK describes family support, including help for children, and bereavement support through counselling or groups. Some hospices offer bereavement support even if the person who died was not their patient. Services vary by hospice.

Are hospices only for people with cancer?

No. Marie Curie lists conditions such as dementia, motor neurone disease, lung disease, Parkinson’s and advanced heart disease. Hospice UK also lists heart, liver and renal failure, COPD and frailty, and says hospice care is available to adults, young adults and children.

What if there is no hospice bed available?

Places are limited. Marie Curie says you may be offered day sessions or a waiting list, or your GP or district nurse can suggest other support. Some care homes have palliative care beds, which may be an option. Ask your GP or the hospice what is available locally.

Official sources

• NHS: Hospice care
• Hospice UK: What is hospice care?
• Hospice UK: What services are on offer
• Marie Curie: Hospice care

This page is general information, not legal, medical or financial advice. The Care Panel is an independent guide and is not part of any government body or care provider. Last checked 9 November 2026.

Related: End of life care at home · Respite care explained · Stages of palliative care

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.