Willow Burn Hospice is a charitable hospice based in Lanchester, County Durham, dedicated to delivering high-quality palliative and end-of-life care to people living with life-limiting illnesses and supporting their families and carers. Established over 30 years ago by local founders who recognised a need for improved community care, the hospice has grown into a purpose-built centre that combines clinical excellence with compassion, dignity and comfort.

The hospice offers a range of services designed to meet individual needs at every stage of serious illness. Its in-patient care provides a warm, homely environment where patients can receive specialist nursing and symptom management when they need it most. Day services focus on wellbeing, self-care and social interaction for people living at home, helping them manage symptoms and maintain quality of life in a supportive group setting. Complementary therapies, creative activities and holistic support are available to enhance emotional and physical wellbeing as part of this care.

In addition to hands-on clinical care, Willow Burn offers family support and bereavement services, recognising that serious illness affects not just the individual but their loved ones. These services include counselling, emotional support, practical guidance and specialised programmes to help families navigate grief and find resilience during and after a loved one’s illness.

Central to the charity’s mission is relieving physical and emotional distress, controlling symptoms, and providing comfort and compassion at the end of life. Its multidisciplinary team — including nurses, healthcare assistants and counsellors — works closely with patients and families to tailor care to individual preferences and needs, emphasising dignity, choice and respect throughout the care journey.

Willow Burn also engages with the community through fundraising activities, volunteer support and memorial initiatives that allow people to remember loved ones while contributing to the hospice’s work. The hospice relies on a combination of fundraising and statutory funding to sustain its services and ensure care remains accessible and free to those who need it.