A new, consistent model of specialist palliative care for adults across North West London will be presented to the NHS North West London Board for approval at a meeting in public on 23 July 2025.
This marks a key milestone in the three-year Compassionate Care for All programme, developed through extensive engagement with residents, clinicians, charitable providers, and local partners.
If approved, the proposed model (Option A) will:
- Introduce 46 new enhanced end-of-life care beds, retaining all existing 57 hospice beds
- Provide 24/7 care at home and a dedicated advice line
- Ensure more equitable, culturally competent care across all eight boroughs
- Deliver faster improvements and better value, avoiding £8.7m in annual acute costs
- Increase total CSPC investment to £32 million in 2025/26, helping sustain local hospices
Option A includes a recommendation to formally close the inpatient unit at Pembridge Palliative Care Centre, which has not been operational since 2018 due to longstanding workforce challenges. While we recognise this will be disappointing to some local residents, we are fully committed to maintaining and enhancing all other Pembridge services – including community-based care, outpatient support and the day hospice – so that local people continue to receive high-quality, personalised care closer to home.
Robyn Doran, Senior Responsible Officer, Adult Community Specialist Palliative Care programme and Director of Transformation and Brent ICP Director, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust said:
“We know the Pembridge inpatient unit holds deep meaning for some residents, but it hasn’t been operational for over six years. Our focus now is on strengthening the care that people rely on every day – at home, in the community, through our outpatient services, as well as increasing overall access to inpatient care through the introduction of enhanced end-of-life care beds.”
Dr Lyndsey Williams, Clinical Lead for Last Phase of Life at NHS London said:
“This model will allow us to provide faster access to care, more choice at the end of life, and better support for families. It’s clinically the right thing to do — and it’s been shaped by the voices of those who deliver and receive care every day.”
The Board meeting will take place in public on:
Wednesday 23 July 2025
1:00–4:00pm
Irish Cultural Centre, 5 Black’s Road, Hammersmith, W6 9DT
A livestream will also be available.
We would like to thank the many individuals, families, professionals, and organisations who gave their time, experiences and insight over the past three years. Your contributions have been essential in shaping a more compassionate, consistent and sustainable approach to specialist palliative care across North West London.