Care is provided free of charge to people who are terminally ill or living with life-limiting conditions
Only three in five Britons know that hospice care is free - a new survey has shown.
The study by Hospice UK has shown that 57% of people are aware that services provided by hospices are generally free.
Hospice care is provided free of charge to people with terminal and life-limiting conditions.
Charitable hospices cover the bulk of costs of providing this care through a mixture of charitable fundraising, such as community events and charity shops. Hospices also receive some statutory funding.
The survey also highlighted that nearly a third of UK adults (31%) think hospice care is available only in a hospice building. Less than half of UK adults (45%) are aware that hospice care is available in community settings such as at home and in care homes. In fact only a small percentage of hospice care (14%) is provided in hospice in-patient units.
The findings of the survey by pollster ComRes – which was commissioned by Hospice UK – suggest that the UK public view hospices very positively.
More than nine in ten people (92%) say they are “an important asset to their community” and more than eight in ten of those surveyed (82%) agree that hospices are “the best way to help people die peacefully and with dignity”.
The survey findings were launched to coincide with Hospice Care Week (9-15 October) when hospices across the UK hold events to celebrate hospice staff, volunteers and supporters involved in providing care for people with terminal and life-limiting conditions.
Tracey Bleakley, chief executive of Hospice UK, said: “This survey shows there is tremendous goodwill by the UK public towards hospices and that they are dear to people’s hearts, however it also reveals some surprising gaps in people’s knowledge about modern hospice care.
“We know the very idea of hospice care can be daunting for many of us and this can affect how people engage with hospices. The insights from this survey will help us to reach out to more people who don’t know about the life-enhancing hospice care available to people with terminal and life-limiting conditions.”
