Newly released research reveals nearly 6,000 hospice nurses funded entirely by gifts in Wills

Almost 6,000 hospice nurses are paid for by legacy gifts in Wills per year

30,000 people per year wouldn’t receive hospice care without legacy income

Newly released data from Hospice UK reveals that almost 6,000 hospice nurses are paid for by legacy gifts in Wills per year across the UK.

This comes as we, Thames Hospice, join a coalition of 143 British hospices, led by Hospice UK, continuing to support the 'This is Hospice Care' campaign, highlighting the impact that hospices have on the people they help and their families.

Hospices are experiencing a surge in demand, which will continue to grow. With 90% of people who die in the UK potentially benefiting from palliative care, and around 130,000 more people expected to die annually by 2040 compared to 2023, funding from legacy donations will be critical to maintaining this need.

Worryingly, whilst legacy giving is growing across the charity sector, hospices' share of the legacy market is declining. In London 68% of people believe hospices deserve greater support yet only 30% have considered gifting to a charity in their Will. There remains a significant gap between intention and action.

Many people still associate hospices solely with end-of-life care, unaware of the full spectrum of support they provide – from pain management and family counselling, to helping people with life-limiting conditions live as fully as possible.

Rachael de Caux, Chief Executive, Thames Hospice, explained:

"Hospice care is everything you’d expect and everything you wouldn’t. Our dedicated team is committed to delivering expert, compassionate, and responsive care, giving patients and their loved one’s choices about the support they receive and where they receive it.

“We provide all our services completely free. However, with the government covering just 30% of our costs, we must raise £39,000 every single day to continue our vital work. This is where the incredible generosity of our community becomes so crucial. In fact, each year, one in five of our inpatient beds is funded by gifts in Wills. These legacy gifts are a lifeline, ensuring we can be there for the next family who needs us, helping them create lasting memories and making life’s most difficult moments less scary."

Leaving a gift in your Will is simple, and even a small gift can have a huge and lasting impact. 

View our simple three step guide on how to write a Will here