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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Two hands being held

Working with the local Health Board to avoid hospital admissions

Find out how Hospice of the Valleys has worked with the local Health Board to reduce hospital admissions
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Clinician in navy scrubs uses stethoscope on a smiling child in a yellow dress.

Hospital In-reach

Derian House Children’s Hospice has worked with the Central Preston Clinical Commissioning Group and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals to improve palliative and end of life care for ...
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Laptop displaying graphs

Understanding how well services meet local need

Derian House Hospice carried out research to assess local needs, which led to increased engagement with commissioners.
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Woman answers a phone while looking at a laptop

Rapid response service

Find out how Compton Care has developed a dynamic and highly responsive community palliative care service in Wolverhampton.
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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.

Man and woman shaking hands over a desk

Collaborating to negotiate with commissioners

Learn how hospices in Kent and Medway have worked together to negotiate and secure funding.
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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 two 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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Five hospices in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are working together to provide leadership for the development of palliative and end of life care in the area

Collaborating to provide leadership

Five hospices in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are working together to provide leadership for the development of palliative and end of life care in the area.
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Dorothy House hospice has developed a progressive model that enables them to explore opportunities for collaboration in a way that benefits all parties

Progressive collaboration

Dorothy House hospice has developed a progressive model that enables them to explore opportunities for collaboration in a way that benefits all parties.
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Compton Care supports care home staff with advance care planning and end of life conversations

Supporting care homes to reduce hospital admissions

Compton Care supports care home staff with advance care planning and end of life conversations.
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Woman holding a clipboard interviewing a man

University Hospice Partnership

St Columba's Hospice Care became a University Hospice by partnering with Queen Margaret University. Find out how the partnership works and the benefits it has had.
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Two hands being held

Working with the local Health Board to avoid hospital admissions

Find out how Hospice of the Valleys has worked with the local Health Board to reduce hospital admissions
Find out more
Aerial view of a city with blue sky

3ST NWL – a third sector partnership in North West London

3ST (Third Sector Together) NWL enables voluntary and community sector organisations in North West London to better engage with the Integrated Care System (ICS).
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A group of people sit around a board room table

A system wide palliative care alliance

Along with the Prospect and Salisbury hospices, Dorothy House Hospice has had a key role in setting up and leading the Palliative and end of life care alliance for the Bath and Nor...
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Allied health professional demonstrates breathing technique to a patient

Holistic care and support for people with lung disease

How St Gemma’s Hospice merged two services to provide integrated, non-pharmacological support for breathlessness, fatigue and anxiety
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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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Compton Care supports care home staff with advance care planning and end of life conversations

Supporting care homes to reduce hospital admissions

Compton Care supports care home staff with advance care planning and end of life conversations.
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Compton Care and Katharine House hospices worked together to jointly recruit for a vacancy, which improved cost effectiveness and gave new staff more opportunity for development

Improving recruitment and retention through joint posts

Compton Care and Katharine House hospices worked together to jointly recruit for a vacancy, which improved cost effectiveness and gave new staff more opportunity for development.
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Elderly man dancing with younger man

A social worker led model of dementia care

Hospice of the Valleys has developed CARIAD, a holistic service to support people living with a dementia diagnosis who have complex needs
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Male nurse wearing scrubs showing a tablet screen to female patient

Student nurse sponsorship programme

Find out how Rowcroft Hospice developed a sponsorship programme for trainee nurses.
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Clinician in navy scrubs uses stethoscope on a smiling child in a yellow dress.

Hospital In-reach

Derian House Children’s Hospice has worked with the Central Preston Clinical Commissioning Group and Lancashire Teaching Hospitals to improve palliative and end of life care for ...
Find out more

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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Several pairs of hands completing a jigsaw puzzle

Co-produced specialist care for young people

Find out how St Elizabeth Hospice has worked with young people who have progressive and incurable illnesses to develop Zest, a service that supports them to enjoy life to the full....
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the outside of a brick building, which has a sign that reads 'WomenZone' on it. Infront of the building, their are raised flower beds. The sky is grey.
Dying Matters

'Uncovering': the project pushing for change

An innovative project in Bradford is aiming to change the landscape of bereavement services offered to under-served community groups.
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Read how a Dying Matters Community Grant has enabled people in Brighton to start conversations about death in a virtual videogame world
Dying Matters

1,000 Conversations about Death: a video game revolution

Read how a Dying Matters Community Grant has enabled people in Brighton to start conversations about death in a virtual videogame world.
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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 ...
Find out more
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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Round wooden table set with a cafetiere, cup, jug, plate and a plant in a pot

Commercial catering services

How a commercial catering service can help provide a sustainable source of income for hospices.
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Male chef wearing a hat, holding and using a stick blender to create a pink smoothie

A partnership approach to generating new income

St Joseph’s Hospice subsidiary Five Sisters® Managed Services works in partnership with Saint Francis Hospice, Romford, to deliver a managed catering service.
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Influencing through local media and social media

Influencing through local media and social media

An example of how one hospice leveraged the media to help influence commissioners, highlighting some key lessons for public campaigning.
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Transition from children's to adult services

Find out how hospices are supporting young people with life limiting or life threatening conditions as they move to adult services

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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Several pairs of hands completing a jigsaw puzzle

Co-produced specialist care for young people

Find out how St Elizabeth Hospice has worked with young people who have progressive and incurable illnesses to develop Zest, a service that supports them to enjoy life to the full....
Find out more

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.

Woman 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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Hospice UK and ellenor hospice logos
Grants

Hospice Care in Focus: Equality, diversity and inclusion

Hospice UK’s Hospice Care Week is an opportunity to shine a light on the incredible work of hospices across the UK in opening up end of life care for all. Over 200 hospices work ...
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Elderly man dancing with younger man

A social worker led model of dementia care

Hospice of the Valleys has developed CARIAD, a holistic service to support people living with a dementia diagnosis who have complex needs
Find out more
Several pairs of hands completing a jigsaw puzzle

Co-produced specialist care for young people

Find out how St Elizabeth Hospice has worked with young people who have progressive and incurable illnesses to develop Zest, a service that supports them to enjoy life to the full....
Find out more
Hospice UK and ellenor hospice logos
Grants

Hospice Care in Focus: LGBTQ+

We look at how ellenor are working with patients, staff, friends and family to engage LGBTQ+ communities in conversations about hospice care.
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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.
Find out more
Masonic Charitable Foundation
Grants

Hospice Care in Focus: Promoting equality

Through our partnership with the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF, the Freemasons’ charity), St Luke's Hospice in Winsford received £22,000 towards promoting equality and incr...
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the outside of a brick building, which has a sign that reads 'WomenZone' on it. Infront of the building, their are raised flower beds. The sky is grey.
Dying Matters

'Uncovering': the project pushing for change

An innovative project in Bradford is aiming to change the landscape of bereavement services offered to under-served community groups.
Find out more
Improving palliative support for people who are homeless

Improving palliative support for people who are homeless

How Saint Francis Hospice worked with agencies in Havering to develop a comprehensive referral pathway for people who are homeless or vulnerably housed
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Hospice Care in Focus: The Homeless Health Inclusion Project
Equality

Hospice Care in Focus: The Homeless Health Inclusion Project

Vital grant funding has enabled staff from a Brighton-based hostel to help provide access to end of life care and promote equality for people experiencing homelessness.
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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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