There are more than 190 local independent hospices in the UK. They provide specialist care for people facing the end of their lives and for those who love them.
They aim to provide the best possible care for people living with and dying from terminal illnesses like cancer, Motor Neurone Disease and heart disease. They also help give light and strength at this time.
A quarter of a million patients are cared for by hospices each year, either in a hospice or in their own home. However because this care also extends to families and loved ones, hospices reach many more people than this. It is provided in people’s homes and through day care facilities, as well as via in-patient units for when people aren’t able or don’t wish to stay at home.
Hospice care is given free of charge and is open to all, but there are not enough services available for everyone who needs it and many people don’t get the care they need. Most hospices are small local charities but they have to work hard to raise huge amounts of money, just to keep their doors open. With government only providing an average of 34% of their operating costs, the remainder must be raised through fundraising and via the generosity of the general public.
