Transforming palliative care for everyone
For 15 years, King's Cicely Saunders Institute has been world-leading in its research on how we improve care for people who are nearing the end of their life. Find out how our bold next step will impact the lives of thousands by bridging the gap between evidence and practice.
Transforming palliative care for everyone
For 15 years, King's Cicely Saunders Institute has been world-leading in its research on how we improve care for people who are nearing the end of their life. Find out how our bold next step will impact the lives of thousands by bridging the gap between evidence and practice.
Introducing the Cicely Saunders Institute
Named for Dame Cicely Saunders, King's alum and founder of the modern hospice movement, The Cicely Saunders Institute (CSI) was established as a partnership between Cicely Saunders International and King’s Department of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation.
Dame Cicely trained at St Thomas's Hospital Medical School, which is now part of King's College London GKT School of Medical Education. Throughout her career as a nurse, social worker, physician and writer, she worked tirelessly to advance research on end-of-life care.
Since 2010, the Institute has grown into a world-leading centre for palliative care. Pushing the boundaries of research, education and practice, its work has influenced national and international policy on dying, death and bereavement. Its research spans finding new treatments for breathlessness (one of the most distressing symptoms experienced at the end of life), improving care for people with dementia, and advancing palliative care in low-income countries.
Beyond the impact on an individual and their family, palliative care helps societies. Palliative care can reduce the number of hospitalisations that occur towards the end of life, improving care for patients and reducing reliance on emergency care. Because palliative care can be provided at the same or lower overall cost to the health and care system, better end-of-life care means more patients receive the tailored care they need, in a more cost-effective way.
Introducing the Cicely Saunders Institute
Named for Dame Cicely Saunders, King's alum and founder of the modern hospice movement, The Cicely Saunders Institute (CSI) was established as a partnership between Cicely Saunders International and King’s Department of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation.
Dame Cicely trained at St Thomas's Hospital Medical School, which is now part of King's College London GKT School of Medical Education. Throughout her career as a nurse, social worker, physician and writer, she worked tirelessly to advance research on end-of-life care.
Since 2010, the Institute has grown into a world-leading centre for palliative care. Pushing the boundaries of research, education and practice, its work has influenced national and international policy on dying, death and bereavement. Its research spans finding new treatments for breathlessness (one of the most distressing symptoms experienced at the end of life), improving care for people with dementia, and advancing palliative care in low-income countries.
Beyond the impact on an individual and their family, palliative care helps societies. Palliative care can reduce the number of hospitalisations that occur towards the end of life, improving care for patients and reducing reliance on emergency care. Because palliative care can be provided at the same or lower overall cost to the health and care system, better end-of-life care means more patients receive the tailored care they need, in a more cost-effective way.
Who has access to palliative care?
While we understand the value of palliative care and know that up to 90 per cent of people in the UK will need it, how end-of-life care is delivered is not consistent. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people aren’t able to access the support they need and are dying in unnecessary pain and discomfort, and with the feeling their preferences have been ignored.
It may come as no surprise that gaps in provision mostly affect people in low- and middle-income countries, as well as groups who are traditionally under-represented and under-served by health systems. These include older people, people with dementia, people in lower socio-economic groups and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
With an ageing population, the UK can expect to see a 40 per cent increase in palliative care needs by 2040. Globally, palliative care needs are expected to double by 2060. If we are to create a world where everyone can die in peace, we must give greater focus to funding and the delivery of end-of-life care.
However, palliative care research has historically received very little attention and funding. Figures show only 23p in every £100 of all health-related research funding in the UK goes to palliative and end-of-life care.
And with tens of thousands of individuals responsible for delivering palliative care – from hospital doctors to care home workers, community nurses to GPs – making sure research and evidence can make it out into the world and inform widespread change to practice is tough.
But King’s is playing a key role in developing solutions to this challenge.
- Across the world, only 1 in 10 people who need palliative care currently receive it.
- 65 per cent of UK adults say they are worried about access to palliative and end-of-life care.
- 22 per cent of people from ethnic minority groups say they have not heard of palliative care, compared to 4 per cent of white people.
Who has access to palliative care?
While we understand the value of palliative care and know that up to 90 per cent of people in the UK will need it, how end of life care is delivered is not consistent. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people aren’t able to access the support they need and are dying in unnecessary pain and discomfort, and with the feeling their preferences have been ignored.
It may come as no surprise that gaps in provision mostly affect people in low- and middle-income countries, as well as groups who are traditionally under-represented and under-served by health systems. These include older people, people with dementia, people in lower socio-economic groups and people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
With an ageing population, the UK can expect to see a 40 per cent increase in palliative care needs by 2040. Globally, palliative care needs are expected to double by 2060. If we are to create a world where everyone can die in peace, we must give greater focus to funding and the delivery of end-of-life care.
However, palliative care research has historically received very little attention and funding. Figures show only 23p in every £100 of all health-related research funding in the UK goes to palliative and end-of-life care.
And with tens of thousands of individuals responsible for delivering palliative care – from hospital doctors to care home workers, community nurses to GPs – making sure research and evidence can make it out into the world and inform widespread change to practice is tough.
But King’s is playing a key role in developing solutions to this challenge.
- Across the world, only 1 in 10 people who need palliative care currently receive it.
- 65 per cent of UK adults say they are worried about access to palliative and end-of-life care.
- 22 per cent of people from ethnic minority groups say they have not heard of palliative care, compared to 4 per cent of white people.
The Impact Centre for Palliative & End of Life Care
The CSI is already transforming our understanding and practice of palliative care in the UK. But there’s an urgent need to remove the barriers that stop people receiving that high-quality care – including limited staff knowledge and training, difficulty sharing research and evidence, and widespread healthcare inequalities.
This is the mission of the new Impact Centre for Palliative & End-of-Life Care. Hosted within the CSI in King’s Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care – the best rated place to studying nursing in the world – the Centre will support researchers, policymakers and healthcare professionals to ensure that good end-of-life care is available to everyone.
The Centre’s activities will be to:
- Synthesise, translate and communicate evidence: providing accessible, relevant information to improve how palliative care is delivered.
- Share evidence-based approaches with practitioners and providers: developing the skills, knowledge and confidence of those delivering palliative and end-of-life care.
- Engage with national and local policymakers: shaping how palliative care is implemented across the UK.
- Improve public understanding of dying, death and bereavement: empowering people to advocate for themselves and their families to ensure they receive the care they need.
The Impact Centre for Palliative & End of Life Care
The CSI is already transforming our understanding and practice of palliative care in the UK. But there’s an urgent need to remove the barriers that stop people receiving that high-quality care – including limited staff knowledge and training, difficulty sharing research and evidence, and widespread healthcare inequalities.
This is the mission of the new Impact Centre for Palliative & End-of-Life Care. Hosted within the CSI in King’s Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care - the best rated place to studying nursing in the world - the Centre will support researchers, policymakers and healthcare professionals to ensure that good end-of-life care is available to everyone.
The Centre’s activities will be to:
Synthesise, translate and communicate evidence: providing accessible, relevant information to improve how palliative care is delivered.
Share evidence-based approaches with practitioners and providers: developing the skills, knowledge and confidence of those delivering palliative and end-of-life care.
Engage with national and local policymakers: shaping how palliative care is implemented across the UK.
Improve public understanding of dying, death and bereavement: empowering people to advocate for themselves and their families to ensure they receive the care they need.
Influential leadership
The Centre will be led by Professor Katherine Sleeman. Professor Sleeman’s commitment to revolutionising end-of-life care is evident; she already holds the roles of Laing Galazka Chair in Palliative Care, Impact Lead of the CSI and Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in palliative and end of life care. Her expertise in public and policy engagement has earned her a global reputation in impact-led research.
‘Everyone affected by dying, death and bereavement deserves the best possible experience,’ she says. ‘I am motivated by impact: that our data and research will lead to improved care and experiences for people living with advanced illnesses, as well as for their families and carers.’
Her work is supported by Professor Irene Higginson OBE, a leading global voice in the field and the founding Professor of the CSI, and Professor Richard Harding, the Interim Executive Dean of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, the world’s number one ranked place to study nursing.
This ecosystem of excellence provides the ideal environment for the Centre to deliver world-class impact.
Influential leadership
The Centre will be led by Professor Katherine Sleeman. Professor Sleeman’s commitment to revolutionising end-of-life care is evident; she already holds the roles of Laing Galazka Chair in Palliative Care, Impact Lead of the CSI and Director of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Policy Research Unit in palliative and end-of-life care. Her expertise in public and policy engagement has earned her a global reputation in impact-led research.
‘Everyone affected by dying, death and bereavement deserves the best possible experience,’ she says. ‘I am motivated by impact: that our data and research will lead to improved care and experiences for people living with advanced illnesses, as well as for their families and carers.’
Her work is supported by Professor Irene Higginson OBE, a leading global voice in the field and the founding Professor of the CSI, and Professor Richard Harding, the Interim Executive Dean of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, the world’s number one ranked place to study nursing.
This ecosystem of excellence provides the ideal environment for the Centre to deliver world-class impact.
Everyone, no matter who they are, deserves the best possible palliative care
As we work towards our vision of a world where every single person with advanced illness receives care at a standard and level that meets their needs, we are building on Cicely Saunder’s trailblazing legacy – helping everyone to die peacefully, and to live fully until they die.
‘You matter because you are you. You matter to the last moment of your life. We will do all we can to help you not only to die peacefully, but also to live until you die.’
- Dame Cicely Saunders (Nursing, 1944; Medicine, 1957)
To find out more or support the work of the Impact Centre and King’s, please contact forever@kcl.ac.uk
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InTouch is published by the University’s Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement Office. The opinions expressed in it are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the University.
If you have a story for our Autumn 2025 issue, email us at forever@kcl.ac.uk
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WRITERS
Kelly Archer
Paul Brooks
Hermione Cameron
Kate Hazlehurst
Teresa Richards
Karina Scuteri
Alex Scott
Ellie Stone
Stephanie Young
DESIGN
Principal design by Jonathan Vickers
Additional design and coding by Carly Yung
Approved by brand@kcl.ac.uk
Photography by Nathan Clarke and Jim Winslet
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO
JH Norris
WRITERS
Kelly Archer
Paul Brooks
Hermione Cameron
Kate Hazlehurst
Teresa Richards
Alex Scott
Karina Scuteri
Ellie Stone
Stephanie Young
DESIGN
Principal design by Jonathan Vickers
Additional design by Carly Yung
Approved by brand@kcl.ac.uk
Photography by Nathan Clarke and Jim Winslet
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO
JH Norris
ALUMNI & EDITORIAL OFFICE
King’s College London
Virginia Woolf Building
22 Kingsway
London, WC2B 6LE
King’s College London 2025 ©
InTouch is published by the University’s Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement Office. The opinions expressed in it are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the University.
If you have a story for our Autumn 2025 issue, email us at forever@kcl.ac.uk
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Accessibility Statement
WRITERS
Kelly Archer
Paul Brooks
Hermione Cameron
Kate Hazlehurst
Teresa Richards
Alex Scott
Karina Scuteri
Ellie Stone
Stephanie Young
DESIGN
Principal design by Jonathan Vickers
Additional design and coding by Carly Yung
Approved by brand@kcl.ac.uk
Photography by Nathan Clarke and Jim Winslet
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO
JH Norris
ALUMNI & EDITORIAL OFFICE
King’s College London
57 Waterloo Road,
London,
SE1 8WA
King’s College London 2025 ©
InTouch is published by the University’s Philanthropy & Alumni Engagement Office. The opinions expressed in it are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the University.
If you have a story for our Autumn 2025 issue, email us at forever@kcl.ac.uk
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Accessibility Statement
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