Wigan & Leigh Hospice provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care to people living in their own homes, in various care settings, and on our Inpatient Unit. In 2024/2025, we cared for more than 1400 patients and supported those closest to them throughout their journey.
Our team of Hospice Nurse Specialists have advanced knowledge and skills in palliative care. They support patients with life-limiting illnesses, as well as those important to them, offering expert advice on symptom control, future care planning, and emotional support.
The team visit patients in their homes, and advice and support is also available by telephone.
Many of our Hospice Nurse Specialists are qualified to prescribe specific medications, enabling them to manage patients’ symptoms effectively.
Our Hospice in your Home (HiyH) team is made up of qualified nurses, assistant practitioners, healthcare assistants, and dedicated volunteers who support patients in their own homes. They provide hands-on, practical support, which may include help with personal care (depending on individual needs).
Our aim is to offer support that complements the care already being provided by other health and social care services. We do this by delivering an extra layer of care that focuses on the unique needs of each patient and their family or carers.
We admit more than 250 people each year to the 14 beds on our Inpatient Unit.
Once referred, the length of stay depends on each patient’s individual needs. We provide short-term care to help manage complex symptoms and end-of-life care for those who need it.
When patients are ready, we support a smooth transition to the most appropriate setting for their ongoing care.
Our counselling and complementary therapy services offer emotional, psychological, and physical support for anyone navigating difficult times.
Counselling provides a safe, confidential space to talk openly with a trained professional, whether one‑to‑one, with family members, in person at the hospice, or remotely by phone or video. There’s never any pressure to share more than feels comfortable, and each session is shaped around your individual needs and pace.
Alongside counselling, we offer a range of complementary therapies delivered by our experienced team. These include aromatherapy, which uses essential oils to support overall wellbeing, and massage therapies.
As important as our care is for patients, it’s equally important that we support the people who matter most to them.
Our care extends beyond the patient, beginning before someone dies and continuing afterwards, with compassionate bereavement support for those closest to them.
This includes access to counselling and complementary therapies, helping people navigate grief with comfort and understanding.
The Wigan Borough Palliative and End of Life Care Learning Hub is led by our dedicated Practice Development Team.
The team offers a wide range of free education and training opportunities to health and social care professionals across the Wigan borough.
Facilities include a fully equipped clinical skills room and dedicated training spaces, where staff can develop essential skills for high-quality palliative and end-of-life care.
We work with care homes, homelessness services, prisons, and other providers to ensure people living with life-limiting illnesses receive the best possible support – wherever they are.
For further information, please see our FAQs.
