Across the country, hospices are being forced to make difficult choices about the care they provide. Nearly 60% have already made or are planning to make cuts to frontline services this year, while 380 beds sit unused due to staff shortages driven by funding pressures. At the same time, specialist community hospice visits have fallen by 150,000 in a single year.

Here in the New Forest, Totton and Waterside community, we are extremely fortunate that Oakhaven Hospice has, so far, managed to continue all its services. This year, our local hospice has supported more local families than ever before in response to ever-growing demand. This is predominantly thanks to gifts left in wills to Oakhaven Hospice, which cover the cost of hospice care for one in four of Oakhaven’s patients.

Consider leaving a gift to Oakhaven Hospice in your will

Andrew Ryde, Oakhaven’s Chief Executive, said: “We would like to thank you if you have already included Oakhaven in your will and invite you to consider leaving a gift to Oakhaven if you haven’t thought of this before. Oakhaven is here for and powered by our community. Whether it's a partner learning how to provide care at home, children processing grief, neighbours and friends discovering how to help, gifts in wills help to make all of this possible.

“Every gift, no matter its size, makes a difference. Just £62 could help fund a bereavement support session for a loved one who is caring for someone with a terminal illness; £220 could fund a home visit to a patient by a specialist palliative community nurse. Your generous legacy gifts ensure that vital support is there, not just for the person who is receiving hospice care, but for everyone around them, now and for generations to come.”

What is hospice care?

Hospice care is designed to help people with terminal illnesses or long-term conditions that cannot be cured—also known as life-limiting—live better and feel better. It can include symptom management and social, practical, emotional and spiritual support. It helps people live as fully and as well as they can to the end of their lives, however long that may be. Oakhaven’s hospice care is provided in patients’ homes as well as at the Hospice. It is completely free for patients, their carers and family members. Patients are referred to Oakhaven by medical professionals.

The ‘This is Hospice Care’ campaign uses real-life stories to illustrate how hospices offer support to entire communities during their toughest times, and how we can ensure giving back is part of our legacy. From managing pain to planning celebrations or providing grief counselling, hospices create moments of comfort when it truly matters. These stories underscore the importance of including vital gifts in wills to ensure this essential support remains available for everyone, both now and for future generations.

Gifts in wills are the lifeline keeping our hospices open

Catherine Bosworth, Director of Income Generation and Grants at Hospice UK, said: “Gifts in wills are the lifeline keeping our hospices open. Every single hour, someone receives care that wouldn't exist without the generosity of people who choose to support hospice care in their will. That's the reality we're working with and it's becoming increasingly fragile, as funding pressures threaten hospice services, right when demand is rising. Our ageing population means demand for hospice care will only continue to grow, so it’s vital that we do what we can to secure hospice care now. A gift in your will to a hospice doesn’t require parting with your money today, anyone can leave a legacy. Gifts of any size can make a significant difference - it all helps hospices be there for people who need them.”

> Find out more about leaving a gift in your will for Oakhaven Hospice