How to Qualify for Hospice Care in the UK (2026)

Key points

• In the UK, hospice care is free. It is paid for through NHS funding and public donations.
• There is no "six months to live" rule in the UK. That rule comes from the US Medicare system.
• Hospice care is for people with a terminal illness, or a long-term condition that cannot be cured. It can start at any stage, not just at the very end of life.
• Most people are referred by their GP, hospital doctor or district nurse. Some hospices accept self-referrals.
• Whether you are offered care depends on your needs and on what your local hospice can provide. Places are limited.
• If someone is getting worse quickly and nearing the end of life, the NHS Continuing Healthcare fast-track route can fund their care at home or in a care home.

Many guides on how to qualify for hospice care are written for the United States. They talk about doctors certifying six months to live, and about Medicare and Medicaid. None of that applies in the UK. Here is how it works here.

What is hospice care?

Hospice care aims to improve the quality of life of people who have an illness that cannot be cured. It looks after the whole person. That means their medical, emotional, social, practical and spiritual needs, and the needs of their family and carers. Support carries on for the family into bereavement.

The NHS describes hospice care as a style of care, rather than something that only happens in a hospice building. It can be given:

• at home
• in a care home
• as a day patient visiting the hospice
• as an inpatient, staying at the hospice

A hospice team might include doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, social workers, therapists, counsellors, chaplains and trained volunteers. For a comparison of settings, see hospice vs care home vs home.

Who can get hospice care in the UK?

Hospice UK says people with a terminal illness, or a long-term condition that cannot be cured (also called life-limiting), can benefit from hospice care. Conditions where it may help include:

• cancer
• dementia
• heart, liver and kidney failure
• lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• neurological conditions such as motor neurone disease and Parkinson's
• frailty

Babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions can also receive hospice care, often from children's hospices.

There is no fixed time limit

The NHS says hospices care for people from the point their illness is diagnosed as terminal to the end of their life, however long that may be. Hospice care does not have to be continuous. Some people take a break when their condition is stable and come back later.

Some people think hospice care is only for people who are dying. This is not true. A hospice team might help control symptoms such as pain or breathlessness early in an illness, with a short stay before going home again.

What "approaching the end of life" means

The NHS says people are considered to be approaching the end of life when they are likely to die within the next 12 months, although this is not always possible to predict. This includes people who:

• have an advanced illness that cannot be cured, such as cancer, dementia or motor neurone disease
• are generally frail and have other conditions that mean they are expected to die within 12 months
• have existing conditions and could die if their condition suddenly gets worse
• have a sudden life-threatening condition caused by an event like a serious accident or stroke

This is a description of who may benefit from end of life care. It is not a test you must pass to see a hospice team.

How to get referred for hospice care

Hospice UK says your GP or hospital doctor would usually refer you for hospice care. A district nurse may also refer you to a community palliative care nurse or a hospice at home service.

Some hospices take self-referrals, from the person or from family with their consent. Even then, the hospice will usually want to talk to the person's doctor to make sure its support is right at that time.

To find your local hospice, you can:

• ask your GP, district nurse or hospital consultant
• use the Hospice UK hospice care finder

If you are not in touch with any services, start with the GP. Part of their job is to help you understand what is available locally.

How hospices decide what care to offer

UK hospice care is based on need. After a referral, the hospice team usually gets in touch to ask about the person's illness, symptoms and current care. They may then arrange a more detailed assessment at the hospice or at home. This helps them work out which of their services would help most. Read more in our guide to how hospice referral and assessment work in the UK.

Two things can limit what you are offered:

• What your local hospice provides. Services vary from place to place. Ask your local hospice what it offers.
• Space. Hospice places are limited, so a bed may not be available straight away. You may be offered day sessions or put on a waiting list. Some care homes also have palliative care beds.

Signs it may be time to ask about hospice care

Marie Curie says hospice care can start at any time after diagnosis with a terminal illness or life-limiting condition. It may help if you are having any physical or emotional symptoms. It may be worth asking the GP or specialist team about a referral if:

• pain, breathlessness or other symptoms are getting harder to control
• the person and their family want more emotional or practical support
• family carers need a break (some hospices offer respite care)
• the person wants to plan where they would like to be cared for

Is hospice care free?

Yes. Hospice care in the UK is free for patients, their carers and family. It is paid for through a mix of NHS funding and public donation.

Other care, such as help with washing and dressing from a homecare agency, or care home fees, may be means-tested. Two kinds of support can help.

NHS Continuing Healthcare fast track

If someone has a rapidly deteriorating condition that may be entering a terminal phase, they can be fast-tracked for NHS Continuing Healthcare. This pays for their care in full, at home, in a care home or in other settings such as a hospice. There is no need for the usual checklist or full assessment.

The fast-track form must be completed by an "appropriate clinician". This is a registered doctor or nurse who knows the person's needs. It can include clinicians at hospices. The NHS says care should usually be put in place within 48 hours. Read our guide to fast-track Continuing Healthcare.

Attendance Allowance under special rules

People over State Pension age who may have 12 months or less to live can claim Attendance Allowance under the "special rules for end of life". They get the higher rate, currently £114.60 a week, and do not need a face-to-face assessment. Ask a doctor or nurse for form SR1. In Scotland, the equivalent benefit is Pension Age Disability Payment.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need six months to live to get hospice care in the UK?

No. The six-month rule is part of the US Medicare system. In the UK, hospices care for people from the point their illness is diagnosed as terminal to the end of life, however long that may be.

Who can refer someone for hospice care?

Usually a GP, hospital doctor or district nurse. Some hospices also accept self-referrals, but they will normally check with the person's doctor.

Do you have to stop treatment to get hospice care?

Not necessarily. The NHS says you may be able to have palliative care while still having other treatment for your condition. Ask your hospice or medical team what applies to you.

How much does hospice care cost?

Nothing. UK hospice care is free, funded by the NHS and public donations.

Can you get hospice care at home?

Yes. Many hospices offer care at home, and charities such as Marie Curie run hospice care at home services in many areas. See our guide to end of life care at home.

For more help, see our end of life care guides. If you are comparing NHS nursing at home with paid carers, read NHS community health care vs home care.

Sources

• Hospice care (NHS)
• What end of life care involves (NHS)
• NHS continuing healthcare (NHS)
• What is hospice care? (Hospice UK)
• Hospice care finder (Hospice UK)
• Hospice care (Marie Curie)
• Hospice care at home (Marie Curie)
• Making a referral (Heart of Kent Hospice)
• NHS continuing healthcare fast track pathway tool (GOV.UK)
• Claiming Attendance Allowance if you're nearing the end of life (GOV.UK)
• Attendance Allowance: how to claim (GOV.UK)