Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many (a) hospices there are in the UK and (b) patients are supported by hospices on average each year.

There are over 200 adult and 50 children’s hospices in the United Kingdom. It is estimated that those hospices support over 300,000 people each year, including people at the end of life, their families, carers, and bereaved relatives.

Whilst the majority of palliative and end of life care is provided by National Health Service staff and services, we recognise the vital part that voluntary sector organisations, including hospices, also play in providing support to people, and their loved ones, at end of life.