Statistics about hospice care in each UK nation

In 2024-25, the hospices in England provided palliative and end of life care to 270,000 people [3].

Hospices in England provided direct support services to 77,000 family members, friends and carers [3].

In 2024-25, the hospices in Northern Ireland provided palliative and end of life care to 12,000 people [3].

Hospices in Northern Ireland provided direct support services to 1,700 family members, friends and carers [3].

In 2024-25, the hospices in Scotland provided palliative and end of life care to 15,000 people [3].

Scottish hospices provided direct support services to 5,200 family members, friends and carers [3].

In 2024-25, the hospices in Wales provided palliative and end of life care to 12,000 people [3].

Welsh hospices provided direct support services to 4,900 family members, friends and carers [3].

In England in 2024-25:

• 460,000 visits were made by specialist palliative care nurses and doctors to hospice patients at home
• 680,000 visits were made by generalist healthcare staff to hospice patients at home (including nurses, healthcare assistants, social workers and carers).
• 760,000 outpatient appointments were made by hospices for physiotherapy, counselling and other support services
• 500,000 days and nights of inpatient care were provided by hospices
• 400,000 appointments were provided to patients’ families, friends and carers, including counselling and bereavement support.

In Northern Ireland in 2024-25:

• 43,000 visits were made by specialist palliative care nurses and doctors to hospice patients at home.
• 34,000 visits were made by generalist healthcare staff to hospice patients at home (including nurses, healthcare assistants, social workers and carers).
• 14,000 outpatient appointments were made by hospices for physiotherapy, counselling and other support services.
• 19,000 days and nights of inpatient care were provided by hospices.
• 8,100 appointments were provided to patients’ families, friends and carers, including counselling and bereavement support.

In Scotland in 2024-25:

• 42,000 visits were made by specialist palliative care nurses and doctors to hospice patients at home.
• 34,000 visits were made by generalist healthcare staff to hospice patients at home (including nurses, healthcare assistants, social workers and carers).
• 29,000 outpatient appointments were made by hospices for physiotherapy, counselling and other support services.
• 48,000 days and nights of inpatient care were provided by hospices. This is a significant decrease on 2023-24.
• 30,000 appointments were provided to patients’ families, friends and carers, including counselling and bereavement support.

In Wales in 2024-25:

• 37,000 visits were made by specialist palliative care nurses and doctors to hospice patients at home.
• 40,000 visits were made by generalist healthcare staff to hospice patients at home (including nurses, healthcare assistants, social workers and carers).
• 31,000 outpatient appointments were made by hospices for physiotherapy, counselling and other support services.
• 21,000 days and nights of inpatient care were provided by hospices.
• 26,000 appointments were provided to patients’ families, friends and carers, including counselling and bereavement support.

In 2024-25, 11,177 whole-time equivalent (WTE) clinical and care staff were employed by hospices in England [4].

Of these:

• 8,829 were nurses and healthcare assistants
• 552 were doctors (some other doctors were employed by NHS hospitals/Health and Social Care Trusts to work across a hospital and a hospice)
• 1,795 were other health and care professionals.

The vast majority (95%) of the clinical workforce in hospices is female and around a third of the clinical workforce (35%) is aged over 55 [4].

Around 82,000 volunteers help hospices deliver care and support services in England [4].

An estimated 1,800 trustees volunteer on hospice governing boards [5]. 

In 2024-25, 334 clinical and care staff were employed by hospices in Northern Ireland [4].

Of these:

• 275 were nurses and healthcare assistants
• 19 were doctors (some other doctors were employed by NHS hospitals/Health and Social Care Trusts to work across a hospital and a hospice)
• 40 were other health and care professionals.

The vast majority (94%) of the clinical workforce in hospices is female and around a third of the clinical workforce (30%) is aged over 55 [4].

Around 1,215 volunteers help hospices deliver care and support services in Northern Ireland [4].

21 trustees volunteer on hospice governing boards [5].

In 2024-25, 1,021 clinical and care staff were employed by hospices in Scotland [4].

Of these:

• 803 were nurses and healthcare assistants
• 60 were doctors (some other doctors were employed by NHS hospitals/Health and Social Care Trusts to work across a hospital and a hospice)
• 158 were other health and care professionals.

The vast majority (94%) of the clinical workforce in hospices is female and just over a third of the clinical workforce (33%) is aged over 55 [4].

Around 6,170 volunteers help hospices deliver care and support services in Scotland [4].

150 trustees volunteer on hospice governing boards [5].

In 2024-25, 578 clinical and care staff were employed by hospices in Wales [4].

Of these:

• 434 were nurses and healthcare assistants.
• 15 were doctors (some other doctors were employed by NHS hospitals/Health and Social Care Trusts to work across a hospital and a hospice).
• 129 were other health and care professionals.

The vast majority (94%) of the clinical workforce in Welsh hospices is female and nearly half the clinical workforce (40%) is aged over 55 [4].

Around 2,445 volunteers help hospices deliver care and support services in Wales [4].

95 trustees volunteer on hospice governing boards [5].