HOSPICE CARE INFORMATION
We collaborate with health and social care professionals to ensure that families affected by life-limiting conditions receive the best hospice care information and person-centred care and support available. We’re here to help healthcare professionals refer individuals to our hospice services as seamlessly as possible.
Referral Criteria
HOSPICE Information for Healthcare Professionals
- Skanda Vale Hospice is a nurse-led palliative care service supported by a medical team, providing personalised care and support tailored to the individual needs of each patient and their family and friends.
- Please note that at this time, we are not currently able to offer end-of-life care at the hospice.
- Assessments include physical, psychological and spiritual needs, and those of friends and family.
Our most recent Healthcare Inspectorate Wales inspection (January 2026) described our care as ‘kind, dignified and person-centred’. Read our summary or read the full report on HIW’s website.
Current Services
Planned inpatient respite
We currently offer up to seven consecutive days of respite per month for up to six patients, all within a single week each month. We plan to expand this service in the future as resources allow.
Day hospice
Available every Wednesday, generally on a fortnightly basis, for up to eight sessions. This is followed by a review and appropriate ongoing support or signposting to other services outside Skanda Vale Hospice.
Remote companionship
Available via phone or video call for patients and/or their families and friends. We offer regular appointments over eight sessions, followed by a review and appropriate ongoing support or signposting to other services outside Skanda Vale Hospice.
Future / advance care planning
Offered as part of an ongoing service or as a standalone option.
What to know Before making a Referral
Referral criteria
We welcome referrals for adult patients (over 18) with a diagnosis of a terminal, life-limiting illness with current palliative care needs, including:
- Metastatic malignant disease.
- Non-malignant conditions such as:
- Advanced neurological conditions.
- Other life-limiting diseases which are now approaching the terminal stage such as heart failure, respiratory disease, and kidney failure.
Exclusions
- Patients with a dementia diagnosis, unless this is in the very early stages and is in addition to another life-limiting condition.
- Patients with highly complex care needs that we assess to be beyond our capacity to meet safely.
Inappropriate referrals
Referrals that are inappropriate include:
- Patients with chronic stable diseases or disabilities with a life expectancy of several years (with exceptions as outlined below).
- Cognitively able patients who decline referral or are unaware of their underlying disease.
Possible exceptions to referral exclusions
We may consider the following referrals on a case-by-case basis:
- Patients experiencing prognostic uncertainty while undergoing active treatment.
- Patients and their families who have recently received a diagnosis and are experiencing psychological distress, even with a prognosis extending years.
In such instances, we can offer a fixed number of support sessions via the Remote Companion Service or Day Hospice. After these sessions, Skanda Vale Hospice remains available for phone advice and re-referral as needed.
Consent requirement
- No referral will be accepted without obtaining the patient’s consent.
- If a patient lacks the mental capacity to decide about referral and admission to hospice services and there is no appointed Lasting Power of Attorney for Health and Welfare or Court Appointed Deputy, the decision to admit must be made in their best interests in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and its Code of Practice.
Responsibility of the referrer
- When making a referral, please ensure you have gathered all relevant contact details and appropriate clinical information. Incomplete referrals will need to be returned to the referrer for more information and we will only be able to process them once they have been completed fully.
Frequently asked questions
Do we provide respite for children?
As much as we would like to offer our services to children and young people, they often have very specific needs that we are unfortunately unable to meet. For information on specialist children’s hospice care please visit Ty Hafan. We do, however, welcome referrals for those over 18 transitioning from children’s to adult services.
Who are our partners?
We are an independent hospice working closely with specialist teams, GPs, social services and third sector providers. We work hand-in-hand with any healthcare professionals to support the best possible experience for patients and their families.
The benefits of our service
We typically support people who are facing significant physical and emotional challenges and a prognosis of a few months to a few years to live. Our holistic care services are about enhancing people’s physical, practical, emotional, social and spiritual well-being, offering something to look forward to; and fostering a renewed sense of confidence and resilience. The hospice building is bright and energising and lends itself as much to fun as it does to relaxation.
Our care outcomes
- Reduced anxiety, isolation and depression through social interaction and peer support, wellbeing activities, access to information and professional input.
- Improved dignity and comfort.
- Reduced symptoms through holistic complementary therapies.
- Reduced risk of crises at home or unplanned hospital admissions.
Choose how to make a referral
Option 1:
Complete and submit the online form below.
refer a patient
