Palliative Care at Home in Preston

82 CQC-registered home care agencies in Preston. Compare ratings, read verified reviews and book care directly — free for families, no account needed.

Palliative Care at Home in Preston

Palliative care at home means that someone with a serious, life-limiting illness receives skilled support in their own home rather than in a hospital or hospice ward. For families in Preston, that support can make an enormous difference — not just in managing physical symptoms like pain, breathlessness or fatigue, but in allowing a person to stay in familiar surroundings, close to the people they love. It is distinct from general elderly care: palliative care involves close coordination with clinical teams, often including district nurses, GPs, the Royal Preston Hospital's specialist palliative team, and hospice at home services operating across Lancashire. Carers working in this setting must understand medication administration, syringe driver support, personal care during periods of rapid change, and how to respond clearly when a person's condition deteriorates. As a family member, you are probably dealing with a great deal at once — hospital appointments, conversations about prognosis, family logistics, and the emotional weight of watching someone you love become more unwell. Finding the right home care agency should not add to that burden. CareAH connects families in Preston with CQC-registered home care agencies that offer palliative and end-of-life care at home. There are approximately 82 CQC-registered home care agencies operating in the Preston area [4], not all of which specialise in palliative care. The information on this page is designed to help you understand what palliative home care involves locally, how funding works, and what questions to ask before you choose an agency.

The local picture in Preston

Most people who come home from hospital to receive palliative care in Preston will have passed through Royal Preston Hospital, which is run by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. When hospital staff determine that a patient is clinically ready to leave but needs ongoing care at home, the discharge is managed under the national Discharge to Assess (D2A) framework [8]. Under this model, care needs are assessed after discharge rather than before, which can mean that home care arrangements need to come together quickly. It is worth understanding the Pathway structure. Pathway 1 applies where a person can return home with support from NHS and social care services. Pathway 2 involves a short period of rehabilitation or recovery in a step-down setting. Pathway 3 is for those who require ongoing nursing care in a care home. For someone receiving palliative care at home, Pathway 1 is the most common route, though the level of support required can be substantial. Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust works alongside Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board, district nursing teams, and hospice at home services to coordinate care for patients with life-limiting illness. If your relative is being discharged under a palliative pathway, a specialist palliative care nurse or clinical nurse specialist may be involved in planning. NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a fully funded NHS package available to people whose primary need is assessed as a health need rather than a social care need [2][3]. People receiving palliative care are sometimes eligible for a Fast Track CHC assessment, which can be completed within 48 hours where death may be reasonably expected. Ask the ward team or discharge coordinator about this before your relative leaves hospital.

What good looks like

Palliative care at home requires a specific level of skill and coordination. Not every home care agency is set up to provide it well. When you are assessing an agency, look for the following practical signals:

  • Clinical capability: Does the agency employ staff trained in palliative care specifically? Can they support syringe drivers, manage complex medication regimes, and respond to symptom changes? If your relative has a specific condition driving their diagnosis, ask how the agency handles that.
  • Communication with NHS teams: A good palliative care agency will work alongside district nurses, GPs, and hospice teams rather than operating separately. Ask how they share information and who to contact when something changes out of hours.
  • Continuity of carers: Frequent carer changes are particularly hard for someone who is seriously unwell. Ask what the agency does to ensure consistent staff.
  • Out-of-hours cover: Palliative needs do not follow office hours. Ask what happens if something changes at 2am.
  • Care planning: Is there a written care plan that reflects the person's current condition, their wishes, and any Advance Care Plan or Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) decision in place?
  • CQC registration: Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 [6], it is a criminal offence to provide regulated personal care in England without being registered with the Care Quality Commission [4]. Every agency listed on CareAH is CQC-registered. An unregistered provider is operating illegally, and using one puts your relative at serious risk. Verify any agency's registration directly on the CQC website before committing.

Funding palliative care in Preston

Funding for palliative care at home in Preston can come from several sources, and it is worth understanding each one.

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC): If your relative's primary need is assessed as a health need, they may be eligible for a fully funded NHS package [2][3]. People approaching the end of life can be assessed via the Fast Track CHC process, which bypasses the full assessment in urgent cases. Contact the ward team or your relative's GP to request this.

Local authority funding: Under the Care Act 2014 [5], Lancashire County Council has a duty to carry out a needs assessment for anyone who appears to need care and support. If your relative qualifies for council-funded care, charges are means-tested. The upper capital threshold is currently £23,250; below £14,250, no contribution is expected from savings [1]. For a Care Act 2014 needs assessment, search 'Lancashire County Council adult social care' for current contact details and opening hours.

Direct Payments: If your relative is assessed as eligible for council funding, they may be able to receive a Direct Payment [9] — money paid directly to them (or to you as their representative) to arrange their own care rather than having the council arrange it.

Self-funding: Families above the capital threshold fund care privately. CareAH can help you find agencies with transparent, itemised pricing.

Questions to ask before you commit

  • 1.Do your carers have specific training in palliative and end-of-life care, and can you describe what that training covers?
  • 2.How do your carers support someone with a syringe driver or complex medication needs at home?
  • 3.How do you communicate with district nurses, GPs, and hospice teams involved in my relative's care?
  • 4.What happens out of hours if my relative's condition changes overnight or at the weekend?
  • 5.How do you ensure consistency of carers, so my relative is not meeting a different person at every visit?
  • 6.Can you provide a written care plan that reflects my relative's current condition and their personal wishes?
  • 7.How quickly could you begin care, and what information do you need from us or from Royal Preston Hospital to get started?

CQC-registered home care agencies in Preston

When comparing palliative care agencies in Preston, look beyond headline ratings. A good CQC inspection report [4] for a palliative care provider will reference specific findings about end-of-life care, not just general home care quality. Check the date of the most recent inspection — a rating that is several years old may not reflect current practice. Ask each agency directly about their experience with cases similar to your relative's: the illness, the level of dependency, and the pace of change. Preston has a range of domiciliary care agencies near me that cover palliative care, but capacity and specialism vary. Prioritise agencies that can demonstrate how they work within the local NHS structure — particularly the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust discharge pathway and the district nursing teams that will likely be involved. Transparent hourly rates and a clear explanation of what is and is not included in the cost are signs of a well-run agency. If funding via NHS Continuing Healthcare or Direct Payments is a possibility, ask whether the agency has experience working under those arrangements.

Showing top 50 of 82. See all CQC-registered home care agencies in Preston →

Frequently asked questions

What is palliative care at home, and how is it different from general home care?

Palliative care at home is specialist support for people with a life-limiting illness, focused on managing symptoms and maintaining quality of life. Unlike general home care, it involves close working with NHS clinical teams — including district nurses, GPs, and sometimes hospice staff. Carers in this setting need specific training in areas like pain management, medication support, and recognising when a person's condition is changing.

Can my relative come home from Royal Preston Hospital with palliative care in place?

Yes. Royal Preston Hospital, run by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, uses the Discharge to Assess (D2A) framework [8], which means care needs are assessed after discharge. If your relative is nearing the end of life, a Fast Track NHS Continuing Healthcare assessment [2] may be possible within 48 hours. Speak to the discharge coordinator or palliative care nurse on the ward to begin this process before they leave hospital.

What is NHS Continuing Healthcare, and could my relative qualify?

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a package of care, fully funded by the NHS, for people whose primary need is a health need rather than a social care need [2][3]. For people approaching the end of life, a Fast Track CHC assessment can bypass the standard process. There is no means test — eligibility is based on clinical need alone. Ask your relative's GP or the hospital team to refer for a CHC assessment. Beacon offers free independent advice on the process [10].

How quickly can palliative home care be arranged in Preston?

This depends on the agency and the complexity of your relative's needs. Some agencies can begin care within 24 to 48 hours, particularly for urgent palliative cases. If your relative is being discharged from Royal Preston Hospital, speak to the discharge team as early as possible — late-stage planning makes timely arrangement harder. CareAH allows you to contact multiple CQC-registered agencies [4] simultaneously to compare availability.

What is a Direct Payment and can we use one for palliative care?

A Direct Payment [9] is money paid directly by Lancashire County Council to your relative (or to you as their representative) following a needs assessment under the Care Act 2014 [5]. Instead of the council arranging care, you use the payment to employ or contract your own care provider. This gives more choice over which agency you use and how hours are arranged. The agency must still be CQC-registered [4] to provide regulated personal care.

What should I do if my relative does not want to go into a hospice?

Many people with life-limiting illness want to remain at home, and this is achievable with the right support in place. A palliative care home care agency can work alongside your relative's GP, district nursing team, and hospice at home services — which exist specifically to support people in their own homes. Be clear when speaking to agencies that home-based end-of-life care is the goal, and ask how they have handled similar situations for other families in Preston.

How does a palliative care agency work alongside district nurses and GPs?

The best agencies treat themselves as one part of a wider clinical team. They share written records with district nurses, follow care plans agreed with GPs, and know when to escalate rather than attempt to manage clinical decisions themselves. Ask any agency you speak to how they communicate with NHS teams, what happens when a carer notices a change in condition, and whether they have experience working within the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust discharge pathway.

Is CQC registration legally required for a home care agency?

Yes. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 [6], any provider delivering regulated personal care in England — which includes hands-on support with washing, dressing, medication, and similar tasks — must be registered with the Care Quality Commission [4]. Providing this care without registration is a criminal offence. You can verify any agency's registration and inspection rating on the CQC website at cqc.org.uk. Every agency listed on CareAH is CQC-registered. If an agency you encounter elsewhere cannot be found on the CQC register, do not use them.

Sources

  1. [1]GOV.UK — Social care charging 2026 to 2027
  2. [2]GOV.UK — National framework for NHS continuing healthcare
  3. [3]NHS England — NHS Continuing Healthcare
  4. [4]Care Quality Commission
  5. [5]Care Act 2014 (legislation.gov.uk)
  6. [6]Health and Social Care Act 2008 (legislation.gov.uk)
  7. [8]NHS — Leaving hospital after being an inpatient
  8. [9]GOV.UK — Apply for direct payments
  9. [10]Beacon — Free NHS Continuing Healthcare advice

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Page guidance last updated May 2026. Funding figures and council details may change — always check current information at the official source.