Countess Mountbatten House is an NHS hospice that opened in 1977 and is currently part of and managed by Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust. The hospice serves a population of around 720,000 people in a catchment area that spans approximately 460 square miles.

The Hospice service provides specialist palliative care for patients with life-limiting cancer through the in-patient unit and Day Care Centre located at the hospice in West End, Southampton; a hospital palliative care team providing support in Southampton General Hospital, and through a community team of clinical nurse specialists led by consultants in palliative medicine who support patients in their own homes throughout the catchment area.

The Hospice provides a special kind of care that supports people, to achieve the best possible quality of life, enabling them to live as actively and fully as possible as their illness progresses.

 In addition, support is provided to families and carers of patients during a loved one’s illness and in bereavement, ensuring they too are cared for and supported throughout this difficult time.

The services provided by the Hospice include many vital teams comprising occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, chaplains, housekeeping staff and over 180 volunteers.

The Hospice has an important Education programme, passing on the expertise of the specialist palliative care services to medical students from the University of Southampton, along with courses specific to a variety of health workers in the NHS and the independent sector.

The Countess Mountbatten Hospice Charity contributes to making this possible by raising and providing around £1 million each year over and above the funds provided by the NHS.

Together the hospice staff and charity help to provide medical, practical and emotional support to patients through the in-patient unit, the Day Care Centre, in hospital, in care homes and in their own homes; and support their families and carers throughout illness and bereavement.