Palliative care at home in London: costs and NHS funding

Palliative care at home in London is often partly or fully free. GPs, district nurses and hospice teams provide NHS and charity care at no charge, and someone who is deteriorating rapidly may get their whole care package paid through Fast Track NHS Continuing Healthcare. If you pay privately, as of 2026 live-in palliative care in London typically costs about £1,500 to £2,500 or more a week, and nurse-led visits about £40 to £100 an hour.

This guide is for families in London. For how palliative care at home works anywhere in England, see our full guide to palliative care at home.

Live in West Sussex? Read our local guide: Palliative Care at Home: What It Is & How It Helps.

Arranging care in West Sussex instead? Read our guide: End of life care at home Worthing guide: hospice support, funding and what to expect.

At a glance

• Hospice care is free, funded by the NHS and public donations (NHS.uk).
• Fast Track Continuing Healthcare can fund all care at home for someone rapidly deteriorating and possibly entering a terminal phase. It is not means-tested.
• Private live-in palliative care in London: roughly £1,500–£2,500+ a week as of 2026. Sources vary; always get a written quote.
• Attendance Allowance is paid at the higher rate of £114.60 a week under the special rules if a doctor says someone may have 12 months or less to live (GOV.UK, 2026/27).
• Marie Curie’s free Support Line is on 0800 090 2309.

What does palliative care at home include?

Palliative care aims to keep someone with an incurable illness as comfortable as possible. It covers pain and symptom control, personal care, emotional and spiritual support, and help for the family. End-of-life care is the part of palliative care given in the last months, weeks and days.

At home, care usually comes from several people working together:

• The GP, who coordinates care and arranges community nursing.
• District (community) nurses, who give nursing care, manage syringe drivers and order equipment.
• Community palliative care nurses, often from a hospice, who advise on pain and symptoms.
• Hospice at home teams and Marie Curie nurses, who can provide hands-on care and overnight nursing.
• Care workers, who help with washing, dressing, eating, continence and company.
• The council, which can supply equipment and adaptations such as rails (NHS.uk).

The NHS, hospices and charities cover the clinical side (see our palliative care hub for an overview). The gap families most often have to fill is day-to-day personal care and overnight support, which is where paid carers come in.

How much does private palliative care at home cost in London?

As of 2026, typical private prices in London are shown below. Sources vary, and prices depend on care needs, provider and postcode. Complex palliative packages are often priced individually after an assessment, so always get a written quote.

Sources: The Care Panel analysis of provider and marketplace prices, including Helping Hands (April 2026), Country Cousins (May 2026), Nurse Agnes (April 2026) and Lottie (September 2026).

For comparison, the Homecare Association puts the minimum sustainable price for home care in England at £34.42 an hour for 2026/27. Our guides to live-in care costs in London and overnight care costs go into more detail.

Why prices vary so much

End-of-life needs can change quickly. A package that starts with two visits a day may need waking nights within weeks. Providers price for:

• the number of carers needed (some tasks need two people);
• how often the person needs repositioning, turning or help at night;
• skills such as supporting someone with a syringe driver in place or catheter care;
• short notice and weekend starts.

Ask whether the quote covers changes in need, and how quickly the provider can scale up.

What is free on the NHS?

A lot of palliative care at home costs nothing. The following are free at the point of use:

• GP and district nursing care, including visits, dressings and syringe drivers.
• Specialist palliative care advice from hospital and community palliative teams.
• Hospice care, including hospice at home services. NHS.uk says hospice care is free and funded by “a combination of NHS funding and public donation”.
• NHS equipment such as a hospital bed, pressure-relieving mattress and commode, usually ordered by the district nurse.
• Council equipment and minor adaptations costing £1,000 or less.

Hospice UK says hospice care is free for patients, their carers and family members. It is not only for cancer: hospices also support people with dementia, heart, lung, liver or kidney failure, motor neurone disease and frailty.

Hospice at home in London

Most of London is covered by a local hospice, and many run community teams. Examples:

• St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham provides care in people’s homes, inpatient care and day services for south-east London boroughs including Lewisham (Lewisham Council).
• St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney offers home-based care from specialist nurses, doctors and social workers, working with the GP and district nurse, for areas including Tower Hamlets (Tower Hamlets Council).
• Marie Curie provides hospice care at home across most London boroughs, with urgent round-the-clock services in some areas (Marie Curie, September 2026).

Referrals usually come from the GP, district nurse or hospital team. Use the Hospice UK Hospice Care Finder to find your local service. Read our comparison of hospice at home and private end-of-life care for more.

Can the NHS pay for all the care? Fast Track Continuing Healthcare

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a package of care arranged and paid for by the NHS. When someone has a rapidly deteriorating condition and may be entering a terminal phase, a clinician can use the Fast Track Pathway Tool to get CHC funding in place quickly.

Key points from the National Framework and NHS sources:

• An “appropriate clinician”, such as a doctor or nurse involved in the person’s care, completes the tool.
• There is no fixed life-expectancy limit.
• The integrated care board (ICB) should accept the recommendation and arrange care urgently. Marie Curie says a care package should be in place within two working days, but it can take longer in some areas.
• Fast Track CHC can pay for carers at home and is not means-tested.
• People eligible for CHC have a legal right to a personal health budget, which can give more control over who provides care.

In London, CHC is decided by the ICB for the area: West and North London, North East, South East or South West London.

Our full guide to Fast Track Continuing Healthcare explains how to ask for it and what to do if you hit delays.

What if CHC doesn’t cover everything?

The ICB arranges a package to meet assessed needs. Some families choose to add private hours on top, for example extra companionship or a family-preferred carer. Ask the ICB how top-ups work locally before you arrange anything, so it does not affect the NHS package.

What if someone isn’t eligible for Fast Track?

Not everyone with a terminal illness qualifies for Fast Track CHC. If the person is stable, their needs may be assessed through the standard CHC process instead, using a Checklist and full assessment. The ICB should usually decide within 28 days.

If CHC is not awarded, the council can assess care needs under the Care Act 2014. Council-funded care at home is means-tested:

• the upper capital limit in England is £23,250 and the lower limit is £14,250 (DHSC, 2026/27);
• the value of the person’s own home is ignored when care is provided at home;
• the council must leave a Minimum Income Guarantee, £241.45 a week for a single person over Pension Credit age (DHSC, 2026/27).

See our guide to the home care means test for how this works in London boroughs.

Which benefits help with end-of-life costs?

Benefits can be claimed quickly under the special rules for end of life. Under these rules:

• a doctor or other medical professional says the person may have 12 months or less to live;
• they complete form SR1, which goes to the Department for Work and Pensions;
• Attendance Allowance is paid at the higher rate of £114.60 a week with no face-to-face assessment (GOV.UK, 2026/27).

People under State Pension age can claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) under similar special rules. The daily living enhanced rate is £114.60 a week and the enhanced mobility rate is £80.00 a week (DWP, April 2026).

A family carer providing at least 35 hours a week may qualify for Carer’s Allowance of £86.45 a week, if earnings are no more than £204 a week after deductions (DWP, April 2026).

How to set up palliative care at home in London

1. Talk to the GP or hospital team about the wish to be cared for at home. Ask for a referral to district nursing and the local hospice.
2. Ask about Fast Track CHC if the person is deteriorating quickly. Ask who will complete the tool and when.
3. Order equipment early. A hospital bed and pressure mattress can take a few days to arrive.
4. Agree who to call out of hours. Keep the district nurse, hospice and NHS 111 numbers by the phone.
5. Claim benefits under the special rules using form SR1.
6. Arrange paid care to fill gaps, either through the ICB package or privately. Check the provider is CQC-registered and ask how it handles end-of-life care.
7. Look after the carers. Family carers can ask their council for a carer’s assessment.

Frequently asked questions

Is palliative care at home free in London?

Much of it is. GP visits, district nursing, specialist palliative advice, hospice care and NHS equipment are free. If someone is rapidly deteriorating, Fast Track Continuing Healthcare can pay for all their care at home without a means test. Private care is usually only needed to fill gaps or where someone is not eligible for NHS funding.

How much does end-of-life care at home cost per week?

As of 2026, private live-in palliative care in London typically costs around £1,500 to £2,500 or more a week, depending on needs and night support. Visiting care is usually £30 to £40 an hour, and nurse-led care £40 to £100 an hour. Sources vary, so always get a written quote that shows weekend, night and bank-holiday rates.

How quickly can Fast Track CHC be arranged?

The National Framework expects the ICB to accept a properly completed Fast Track Pathway Tool and arrange care urgently. Marie Curie says a package should be in place within two working days, although it can take longer in some areas. If there is a delay, ask the ward, GP or district nurse to chase the ICB.

Does a hospice only help people with cancer?

No. Hospice UK says hospices support people with many life-limiting illnesses, including dementia, heart failure, COPD, kidney or liver failure, motor neurone disease and frailty. Referrals usually come through the GP or hospital doctor, and some hospices accept self-referrals.

Where can families get emotional support?

Marie Curie’s free Support Line is 0800 090 2309 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm, weekends 10am to 4pm). It offers information and emotional support to people with a terminal illness and those close to them. Your local hospice may also offer family support and bereavement services.

Sources

• NHS.uk: Hospice care
• NHS.uk: End of life care at home
• NHS.uk: NHS continuing healthcare
• DHSC: National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare (July 2022, revised)
• Marie Curie: NHS continuing healthcare
• Marie Curie: Our services in London
• Marie Curie: Support Line
• Hospice UK: What is hospice care?
• Hospice UK: Hospice Care Finder
• Lewisham Council: End of life care
• Tower Hamlets Council: Hospice services
• GOV.UK: Claiming Attendance Allowance if you’re nearing the end of life
• DWP: Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027
• DHSC: Social care charging for care and support 2026 to 2027
• Homecare Association: Research and reports (Minimum Price for Homecare 2026/27)
• Helping Hands: Cost of palliative care
• Country Cousins: Palliative care at home cost in the UK
• Nurse Agnes: How much does a private nurse cost in the UK?
• Lottie: Care at home costs

This guide is general information, not financial, legal or medical advice. Last reviewed September 2026.

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 25 October 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.