Changes to adult community specialist palliative care in north west London
From October 2025, NHS North West London will begin the phased rollout of Compassionate care for all and the new model of adult community specialist palliative care (CSPC).
The first phase extends the availability of community specialist palliative care teams to 8am–8pm, seven days a week, and strengthens “hospice at home” support to allow more people with complex needs to get the right help earlier and in the comfort of familiar surroundings. Further phases will follow over the coming months.
What is changing from October?
- Longer hours of care available, seven days a week: Community specialist palliative care teams will provide support 8am–8pm, 7 days, improving access and helping to reduce avoidable hospital admissions.
- Care closer to home: Expanded at‑home and community services to deliver expert symptom control, emotional and psychological support, and coordinated, holistic care.
- Partnership delivery: Changes will be implemented with local hospices and NHS providers to add capacity and improve consistency in care between boroughs.
Where does the first phase go live?
West London (Kensington and Chelsea, Queen’s Park and Paddington):
Community Specialist Palliative Care Team, Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH) Pembridge Palliative Care Service
- Current provision: 8am – 6pm, 7 days a week
- Change to future provision: Care service expanded to a 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week
- Go live date: 1 October 2025
Community Specialist Palliative Care Team, Royal Trinity Hospice
- Current provision: 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week (Royal Trinity Hospice)
- Change to future provision: No change
Central London (Westminster excluding Queen’s Park and Paddington)
Community Specialist Palliative Care Team, Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH) Pembridge Palliative Care Service
- Current provision: 8am – 6pm, 7 days a week
- Change to future provision: Care service expanded to a 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week
- Go live date: 1 October 2025
Community Specialist Palliative Care Team, St John’s Hospice
- Current provision: 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week
- Change to future provision: Care service expanded to Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday to Sunday 9am to 5pm
- Go live date: 1 October 2025 (7 day 8am to 8pm planned to go live from January 2025)
Community Specialist Palliative Care Team, Royal Trinity Hospice
- Current provision: 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week (Royal Trinity Hospice)
- Change to future provision: No change
How to get support (no change to contact routes)
Patients, families and carers should continue to use existing contact routes—speak to your GP, community nurse, hospital team, or local hospice for advice and referrals. No new advice line is launching in October; current numbers and services remain in place. These changes add capacity and consistency—they do not remove current support.
Looking ahead: enhanced end‑of‑life care beds
Work is underway to develop enhanced end‑of‑life care beds for people who need round‑the‑clock, compassionate care but do not require consultant‑led specialist palliative care hospice inpatient care.
The NHS will engage locally on options—including location and providers, travel and visiting, cultural and spiritual needs, and family support—before any decisions are made. It is not anticipated that any new enhanced end‑of‑life care beds will open before the end of the year.
Part of a wider improvement
This October launch is the first step in delivering the new, co‑designed CSPC model approved by the NHS North West London Board in July 2025, which aims to improve equity, consistency and access across all eight boroughs. Implementation will continue in further phases.
Useful resource
HPAL – Your Trusted Palliative Care Resource: a free, expert‑curated platform for clinicians, carers and the public with evidence‑based guidance on palliative and end‑of‑life care: hpal.medindex.co.uk.
Have any questions?
If you would like a short briefing or have questions, please contact nhsnwl.endoflife@nhs.net.
