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Did you know... One in three people have been touched by hospice care
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Facts and figures

The first modern hospice was established in the UK in 1967; these facts detail how the hospice movement has progressed and how it is funded.

UK services for adults

In the UK there are:

  • 220 hospice and palliative care inpatient units
  • 3,175 hospice and palliative care beds
  • 288 home care services
  • 127 Hospice at Home services
  • 272 day care centres
  • 343 hospital support services1.

 

UK services for children

In the UK there are:

  • 42 hospice inpatient units
  • 334 hospice beds1

 

Funding

In the UK, £1.4 million is spent on hospice care every day2.

 

Adults' hospices in England receive on average 34% of their funding from the government. Children's hospices typically receive much less government funding, on average 15% of their running costs2.

 

Our Policy pages have more information on hospice funding.

 

The volunteer contribution

Over 100,000 people volunteer in local hospices in the UK. Without them hospices could not continue the work that they do. A study by Help the Hospices in 2006 estimated the economic value of volunteers to independent charitable hospices in the UK to be over £112 million.

 

International

Download facts and figures about hospice and palliative care around the world.

 

Further information

Please contact us if you need more information about hospice care.

 

For patient statistics, please contact the National Council for Palliative Care.

 

For further statistical information relating to end of life care in England, see the National End of Life Care Intelligence Network.

 

References

1. Help the Hospices. Hospice and Palliative Care Directory 2011-2012. London: Help the Hospices; 2011.

2. Help the Hospices. Hospice accounts – Analysis of the accounts of UK independent voluntary hospices. London: Help the Hospices; 2010.

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