Statistics about hospice care in each UK nation

In 2022-23, the hospices in England provided palliative and end of life care to 260,000 people [3].

Hospices in England provided direct support services to 52,000 family members, friends and carers [3].

In 2022-23, the hospices in Northern Ireland provided palliative and end of life care to 11,000 people [3].

Hospices in Northern Ireland provided direct support services to 930 family members, friends and carers [3].

In 2022-23, the hospices in Scotland provided palliative and end of life care to 18,000 people [3].

Scottish hospices provided direct support services to 3,500 family members, friends and carers [3].

In 2022-23, the hospices in Wales provided palliative and end of life care to 13,000 people [3].

In 2022-23, 18% of hospices’ total service activity in England was delivered in an inpatient unit and 54% of hospices’ total activity was delivered at the person’s place of residence [3].

In England in 2022-23:

• 720,000 visits were made by specialist palliative care nurses and doctors to hospice patients at home.
• 460,000 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.
• 510,000 days and nights of inpatient care were provided by hospices.
• 300,000 appointments were provided to patients’ families, friends and carers, including counselling and bereavement support.

In 2022-23, 16% of hospices’ total service activity in Northern Ireland was delivered in an inpatient unit and 74% of hospices’ total activity was delivered at the person’s place of residence [3].

In Northern Ireland in 2022-23:

• 52,000 visits were made by specialist palliative care nurses and doctors to hospice patients at home.
• 11,000 visits were made by generalist healthcare staff to hospice patients at home (including nurses, healthcare assistants, social workers and carers).
• 12,000 outpatient appointments were made by hospices for physiotherapy, counselling and other support services.
• 17,000 days and nights of inpatient care were provided by hospices.
• 2,300 appointments were provided to patients’ families, friends and carers, including counselling and bereavement support.

In 2022-23, 28% of hospices’ total service activity in Scotland was delivered in an inpatient unit and 59% of hospices’ total activity was delivered at the person’s place of residence [3].

In Scotland in 2022-23:

• 50,000 visits were made by specialist palliative care nurses and doctors to hospice patients at home.
• 22,000 visits were made by generalist healthcare staff to hospice patients at home (including nurses, healthcare assistants, social workers and carers).
• 23,000 outpatient appointments were made by hospices for physiotherapy, counselling and other support services.
• 51,000 days and nights of inpatient care were provided by hospices.
• 18,000 appointments were provided to patients’ families, friends and carers, including counselling and bereavement support.

In 2022-23, 16% of hospices’ total service activity in Wales was delivered in an inpatient unit and 72% of hospices’ total activity was delivered at the person’s place of residence [3].

In Wales in 2022-23:

• 50,000 visits were made by specialist palliative care nurses and doctors to hospice patients at home.
• 43,000 visits were made by generalist healthcare staff to hospice patients at home (including nurses, healthcare assistants, social workers and carers).
• 16,000 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.
• 8,600 appointments were provided to patients’ families, friends and carers, including counselling and bereavement support.

In 2022-23, 13,800 clinical and care staff were employed by hospices in England [5].

Of these:

• 10,500 were nurses and healthcare assistants
• 800 were doctors (some other doctors were employed by NHS hospitals/Health and Social Care Trusts to work across a hospital and a hospice)
• 2,500 were other health and care professionals.

The vast majority (91%) of the clinical workforce in hospices is female and around a third of the clinical workforce (37%) is aged over 55 [4].

Around 82,000 volunteers help hospices deliver care and support services in England [5].

An estimated 1,800 trustees volunteer on hospice governing boards [6]. 

In 2022-23, 530 clinical and care staff were employed by hospices in Northern Ireland [5].

Of these:

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

The vast majority (96%) of the clinical workforce in hospices is female and around a third of the clinical workforce (32%) is aged over 55 [4].

Around 1,500 volunteers help hospices deliver care and support services in Northern Ireland [5].

An estimated 40 trustees volunteer on hospice governing boards [6].

In 2022-23, 1,170 clinical and care staff were employed by hospices in Scotland [5].

Of these:

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

The vast majority (93%) of the clinical workforce in hospices is female and just over a third of the clinical workforce (35%) is aged over 55 [4].

Around 5,300 volunteers help hospices deliver care and support services in Scotland [5].

An estimated 140 trustees volunteer on hospice governing boards [6].

In 2022-23, 600 clinical and care staff were employed by hospices in Wales [5].

Of these:

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

The vast majority (97%) of the clinical workforce in Welsh hospices is female and nearly half the clinical workforce (45%) is aged over 55 [4].

Around 3,602 volunteers help hospices deliver care and support services in Wales [5].

An estimated 120 trustees volunteer on hospice governing boards [6].

It costs over £1.4 billion each year to run the hospices in England [7].

One third of this comes from government funding [7].

It costs £34 million each year to run the hospices in Northern Ireland [7].

Around 40% of this comes from government funding [7].

It costs £116 million each year to run the hospices in Scotland [7].

Around 40% of this comes from government funding [7].

It costs £55 million each year to run the hospices in Wales [7].

Around 30% of this comes from government funding [7].