Palliative care is treatment, care and support for people with a life-limiting illness, as well as their family and friends. It is sometimes also referred to as ‘supportive care’ or ‘end of life care’.
Across Hampshire, palliative care is readily available through specialist, integrated teams that are made up of carers, hospice staff, hospital staff and district palliative care nurses. Care is shared across hospitals, hospices, care homes and the home depending on each individual’s needs and preferences.
Palliative care aims to ensure the best possible quality of life in someone’s final days and includes:
- Management of pain and relief from other distressing physical symptoms
- Emotional support
- Practical care, including help with everyday tasks such as eating and washing
- Support for family and friends in any form required
For more guidance and advice, visit our national page on End of Life Planning & Care.
Gaining access to palliative care in Hampshire can prove confusing and difficult to navigate during a stressful time. On this page, Age Space have organised palliative care teams by area, alongside their contact details to make the process as simple as possible for you.
Palliative Care Teams in Hampshire
North Hampshire, Basingstoke & Winchester
The Hampshire Hospital NHS Trust provides specialised palliative care through the Hampshire Hospital Palliative Care Service. Basingstoke & North Hampshire Hospital and the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester have in-hospital palliative care teams. Contact numbers for discussing care can be found below:
- Basingstoke: 01256 314729
- Winchester: 01962 825573
Community services are also provided in the Basingstoke and Andover areas for patients who may prefer to be cared for at home. Contact numbers are below to discuss care. Lines are open from 8.30am to 4.30pm every day of the week.
- Basingstoke: 01256 314729
- Andover: 01264 835250
In the region, there are also two hospices that work closely with the NHS hospitals to provide palliative care.
St. Michael's Hospice, Basingstoke
St. Michael’s Hospice takes referrals from all across North Hampshire and will occasionally operate outside of the catchment area in special circumstances, from outside this catchment area. Referrals can be made to St. Michael’s Hospice through any healthcare professional, or patients can self-refer. The easiest way is by downloading and completing the referral form and emailing it back to the Palliative Care Office at the Hospice at [email protected]. However, you can also make a referral by post, face-to-face or over the telephone.
Remember to provide as much information as possible, enabling the team to make the right decisions regarding care for patients and families.
- Address: St. Michael's Hospice, Basil de Ferranti House, Aldermaston Road, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG24 9NB
- Telephone: 01256 844744
- Visit Website
Countess of Brecknock Hospice, Andover
The Countess of Brecknock Hospice is a specialist palliative care unit within Andover War Memorial Hospital. The Hospice provides specialist care for people with any life-limiting illness, offering:
- An inpatient unit
- A hospice at home service
- A day hospice service
- Outpatient clinics
- Close partnerships with the Hampshire Hospital Palliative Care Service community and hospital teams, as well as community palliative nursing care teams and GPs
Patients can be referred by a member of staff at Andover War Memorial Hospital.
- Address: Countess of Brecknock Hospice Trust, Brecknock House, Henry Gamman Drive, Charlton Road, Andover, Hampshire, SP10 3LB
- Telephone: 01264 835288
- Visit Website
Portsmouth & South East Hampshire
The Solent NHS Trust has a Specialist Palliative Care Service, based in Portsmouth. They provide specialist support to carers and family members affected by a person’s illness, including bereavement programmes.
To receive support from this service, you should speak to your GP who will make a referral if they feel your needs are appropriate. You are eligible for support if you live in Portsmouth or South East Hampshire (referrals from patients within GP catchment area of PO1 to PO7).
Contact with the patient cannot be made until a written referral has been completed. However, where urgent advice is required, health professionals can assist at any time by contacting 0300 300 2011.
The Rowans Hospice - Waterlooville
The Rowans Hospice work in partnership with the Solent NHS Trust to deliver palliative care through:
- A 19-bed inpatient unit
- A home care service
- Bereavement support
The Rowans Hospice also have a Living Well Centre offering a drop-in service where complementary therapists and trained volunteers can offer guidance and support. You can also access classes and treatment, with no referral needed. Telephone for Living Well Centre: 023 9224 8011.
- Address: Rowans Hospice, Purbrook Heath Road, Waterlooville, PO7 5RU
- Telephone: 023 9225 0001
- Visit Website
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight NHS trust works in partnership with Earl Mountbatten Hospice, GPs and care agencies to deliver palliative care across the island. This may be based in hospitals, care homes and people’s own homes.
Mountbatten Hospice, Isle of Wight
Mountbatten take care of physical, emotional, spiritual and practical needs as well as supporting families through:
- Care in people’s own homes or care homes
- Inpatient unit (John Cheverton Centre)
- Support to people in hospital
Referrals to the Mountbatten coordination centre at the hospice can only be made by healthcare professionals, so you must speak to your GP to access the services the hospice provides. Services are always free, but provided on a basis of need.
- Address: Mountbatten, Halberry Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2ER
- Telephone: 01983 529511
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Southampton
The University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust covers palliative care in Southampton, in partnership with the Countess Mountbatten House Hospice, GPs and local care providers. To contact the palliative care ward you can call 02381 204126.
Mountbatten Hampshire, Southampton
Mountbatten Hampshire service the communities of Southampton and its surrounding areas, including Eastleigh, Romsey and Winchester. They provide care, comfort and compassionate support through:
- 21-bed inpatient unit
- Day services at the Hazel centre
- Bereavement support
Countess Mountbatten House inpatient unit accepts referrals for any inpatient with an advanced illness on any ward at Southampton General or Princess Anne Hospital. Other services can be accessed through referral from your GP or community nurse.
- Address: Mountbatten Hospice, Botley Road, West End, Southampton, SO30 3JB
- Telephone: 02382 548810
- Visit Website
Lymington and New Forest
Oakhaven Hospice Trust works with NHS Lymington New Forest Hospital and local care providers. They provide specialist palliative care and support in the New Forest and Waterside area through:
- Inpatient unit
- Day hospice
- Home care hospice services
- Bereavement and family support services
Referrals have to be made through a healthcare professional. However, they advise contacting them if you would like to discuss whether you or a loved one may be eligible for a referral to Oakhaven.
- Telephone: 01590 670346
- Visit Website
Rosemary Foundation Hospice at Home (Petersfield & East Hampshire)
The Rosemary Foundation is a charity providing free hospice-at-home services in Petersfield and the surrounding towns and villages of East Hampshire. This includes:
- Nursing care
- Emotional support and counselling
- Day and night sitting services (respite care)
- Practical help
Medical professionals have to refer you to access the services, so we recommend talking to your GP. However, if you have any direct questions about the Rosemary Foundation, contact details are provided below:
- Address: Rosemary Foundation Hospice, 35 Lavant Street, Petersfield, GU32 3EL
- Telephone: 01730 266329
- Email: [email protected]
- Visit Website
Advance Directives
An advance directive (sometimes referred to as an advance statement) is a statement outlining a person’s preferences and their wishes for their future care plan. It means if someone becomes so unwell that they can no longer communicate or no longer have the mental capacity to make decisions, their relatives will have a guide to follow, knowing what their loved one would want.
You can find more information about advance directives by taking a look at our dedicated page on Advance Directives and Living Wills.
Bereavement Support Services in Hampshire
Losing a loved one is an incredibly difficult time that we will all face in our lives. People cope with grief in their own ways and external support can aid the healing process. Hampshire has a comprehensive provision of bereavement support groups and services, from walking groups with other bereaved people to grief counselling, there is sure to be the right help for you if you are struggling. You can find out more from our page about Bereavement Support in Hampshire.
