Examples of innovation

Hospices and end of life care providers across the UK are working in innovative ways to meet local need.

Browse our directory of learning examples to find practical information, tips and advice for new ways of working

In our directory we’re showcasing this work and sharing practical information, tips and advice about how to solve challenges.

Do you have some examples to share? Email us.

What's on this page

Expanding access to services

Palliative and end of life care patients need access to care 24 hours a day. Find out how hospices have been expanding their services and making it easier for patients and carers to make contact.

A 24-hour specialist phone service for adults with life limiting illnesses in Cambridge and Peterborough, supported by Arthur Rank Hospice Charity

Palliative care hub

A 24-hour specialist phone service for adults with life limiting illnesses in Cambridge and Peterborough, supported by Arthur Rank Hospice Charity.
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Older person using tablet
Equality

How a virtual platform can improve access to care

Halton Haven Hospice in the north west of England is using a virtual care platform to ensure care remains sustainable for the local population.
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Older man is smiling as he talks on the phone

Your hospice care

Keech Hospice, Sue Ryder St Johns Hospice and Bedford Daycare Hospice worked together to provide a single point of access for hospice care in Bedfordshire.
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To meet local need, St Barnabas Hospice developed a night nursing service with the Community Trust

Integrated night nursing service

To meet local need, St Barnabas Hospice developed a night nursing service with the Community Trust.
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Partnerships and mergers

Working in partnership helps hospices increase their influence, reduce duplication of effort and support each other. Mergers can enable services to continue if a hospice is in danger of closing. Read our examples of different approaches.

Female nurse taking care of a senior man

Hospice merger

A merger between Douglas Macmillan Hospice and The Donna Louise Trust children’s hospice streamlined non-clinical functions and increased service availability.
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Read the Innovation example of the Sussex Hospices Stronger Together collaboration

Sussex Hospices Stronger Together collaboration

A number of factors encouraged the collaboration of 7 hospices in Sussex to gain a stronger political voice, whilst retaining their local identity and independence.
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In Humber and North Yorkshire, seven hospices are working together to operate more effectively as part of the wider health system

Collaborating to improve efficiency

In Humber and North Yorkshire, seven hospices are working together to operate more effectively as part of the wider health system.
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A collaborative partnership of 8 adult hospices and 2 children’s hospices in Greater Manchester

Greater Manchester Hospices

A collaborative partnership of 8 adult hospices and 2 children’s hospices in Greater Manchester aimed to speak with a collective voice in the newly devolved health and social car...
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Find definitions of transition from children's services into adulthood and how Hospice UK is responding to young people's needs with research, guidance and project funds

Working together to improve transition

Shooting Star Children’s hospice worked with adult hospices in Surrey and South West London to help pave the way for transition to adult services.
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Workforce

Find out how hospices have innovated to make sure the right people are around the patient - solving workforce challenges such as recruitment, retention and development. 

Farleigh Hospice implemented three Locality Care Teams to maximise the support for patients and carers in the community

Locality care teams for community hospice care

Farleigh Hospice implemented three Locality Care Teams to maximise the support for patients and carers in the community.
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To help recruit and retain staff, Farleigh hospice has used a creative approach to develop new roles and provide career progression

Creative workforce solutions

To help recruit and retain staff, Farleigh Hospice used a creative approach to develop new roles and provide career progression.
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Female nurse taking care of a senior man

Implementing a nurse preceptorship programme

Rainbows Hospice developed a preceptorship programme to support newly qualified nurses.
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Working with communities and volunteers

Hospices are a valuable part of their local communities, providing much more than end of life care. Find examples of how hospices have worked with and in their local communities.

The LOROS volunteer-led bereavement hubs were set up in partnership with Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall and Dying Matters, to meet increasing need for bereavement support in Leicestershire and Rutland

Volunteer-led bereavement hubs

The LOROS volunteer-led bereavement hubs were set up in partnership with Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall and Dying Matters, to meet increasing need for bereavement support in Leicestershire ...
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These case studies provide great examples of community volunteering in action at hospices across the UK

Case studies

These case studies provide great examples of community volunteering in action at hospices across the UK.
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DM community grants event image
Dying Matters

Laughing about death?

The East African Education Foundation were awarded a grant to produce a one-off comedy and information event around the theme of death, grief and end of life care planning.
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Bereavement Support

Bereavement support has become increasingly important since the Covid-19 pandemic began. Find out how hospices have helped.

The LOROS volunteer-led bereavement hubs were set up in partnership with Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall and Dying Matters, to meet increasing need for bereavement support in Leicestershire and Rutland

Volunteer-led bereavement hubs

The LOROS volunteer-led bereavement hubs were set up in partnership with Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall and Dying Matters, to meet increasing need for bereavement support in Leicestershire ...
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Abigail, supported by the team at Ty Hafan hospice
Hospice care stories

How hospices make a difference: Ty Hafan's Birdsong Project

The love and support Welsh children’s hospice Ty Hafan gives its families doesn’t stop when their child dies.
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Toolkit graphic

Bereavement Project Resources toolkit

This page brings together resources to share our learning and to help other hospices as they continue to adapt their services.
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Income generation

To be sustainable in the future, hospices need to find ways to maximise revenue. Read our examples of commercial income generation to get some ideas.

A photo of someone receiving home care by a hospice nurse

Domiciliary care franchise

An example of a franchised home care service being run by St Helena’s hospice in Colchester, Frinton and Clacton.
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Promoting equity of care

Everyone has a right to high-quality care and support at the end of their life. Find out how some hospices have taken steps to promote equality in palliative and end of life care.

Lady in hospital bed
Equality

Supporting people with no recourse to public funds at the end of life

Ending inequalities: supporting people with no recourse to public funds at the end of life. St Christopher’s Hospice has launched a toolkit to support people at the end of lif...
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Birmingham St Mary's staff
Equality

New Birmingham hospice service is reaching out to city’s homeless

Ending inequalities: New Birmingham hospice service is reaching out to city’s homeless In September last year Birmingham St Mary’s launched a new service to make sure people...
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Tarun Nayyar, clinical pharmacist at John Taylor Hospice.
Equality

How a Birmingham hospice is meeting the diversity needs of its patients

Birmingham is the UK’s second most diverse city after London. Based in the suburb of Erdington, John Taylor Hospice has been ensuring the charity is inclusive of different faith ...
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Healthcare professional
Equality

Understanding the spectrum of autism

We speak to Dawn Stirk at Rowcroft Hospice about understanding the spectrum of autism in end of life care.
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Hospice UK has developed a framework to help hospice leaders build resilient teams and staff, and help them perform well and flourish under stress.

End of Life Care for People Experiencing Homelessness

St Gemma’s Hospice worked with organisations across Leeds to develop and improve palliative and end of life care services for people who are homeless and vulnerably housed
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Quality Improvement

Hospice UK helps hospices improve and develop their services. Learn from our projects.

Patient and healthcare worker

Building on the Best

Find out about ‘Building on the Best’, a 2-year partnership programme which aimed to enhance existing end of life care in UK hospital settings.
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Emergency Care Improvement Programme

Emergency Care Improvement Programme

This End of Life Care project was delivered by Hospice UK’s Quality Improvement team, in partnership with NHS Improvement and four acute trusts across England.
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Doing some innovative work you’d like to share?
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Email our Innovation Hub team

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If you work in palliative and end of life care, you can find support, development opportunities, resources, and guidance and access our networks and communities on Hospice UK’s Innovation Hub

Innovation Hub

If you work in palliative and end of life care, you can find support, development opportunities, resources, and guidance and access our networks and communities on Hospice UK’s I...

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