Supporting better palliative care in hospitals

PATCH is the first charity specifically to support 24/7 specialist palliative care for patients in hospital. What we do

Why this mattersHospitals are where the need is

Palliative care is relief from pain and other distressing symptoms, plus time for careful conversations and planning with patients and families. In hospitals, those needs are common, and too often unmet.

of people die in a hospital.
50%
of patients die in a hospice (capacity is limited).
5%
specialist palliative care is not guaranteed in hospitals.
24/7

Latest news

Dundas Medal 2025 awarded to Specialist Palliative Care Service at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals

The Dundas Medal is awarded jointly by PATCH and The Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh recognising professional excellence in the field of palliative care.

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A Valentine of music and support for PATCH

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Skilled palliative care needs to be a core activity of all hospitals

PATCH supports hospitals to improve palliative care so patients can receive high quality care when they need it, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

  • Patients and families. We want patients and families to know that staff will take time to explain what is happening, answer questions, and support decisions about future care.
  • Staff. We support education and research so care is based on evidence and staff feel confident providing high quality palliative care in hospital.
  • Hospitals. When symptoms and concerns are addressed quickly, patients may be able to go home sooner (if that is what they want), and families are better supported.

A patient is the most important person in our hospital. He is not an interruption to our work; he is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our hospital; he is part of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him; he is doing us a favour by giving us the opportunity to do so.

Gandhi

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