Healthcare Professionals Hub

Making a Referral to Willow Burn Hospice

Patients for in-patient care, day services or bereavement counselling must be referred to Willow Burn Hospice following an assessment by the relevant healthcare professional. There are different referral pathways for each service, please the contact details provided for any enquiries.

If it is an urgent referral for admission, please ring and speak to the nurse in charge who will be able to help you: 01207 523 293

Making a Referral to Willow Burn
To make a referral you need to submit a referral form which can be downloaded below.

You can also find out more about referring to each our services below.

"The care is outstanding, the staff are wonderful. Nothing is a bother. I count myself blessed to be able to end my days in such a wonderful place."

Referral Criteria for In-Patient Care
The referral needs to identify a need for specific palliative care input having considered resources that may be available locally to the patient. This includes patients with an advanced progressive illness with whom the referral has been discussed. The patient needs to require supervision from a registered nurse. The patient may have:

  • Uncontrolled symptoms regardless of stage or outcome, psychological support needs, spiritual support needs, support to adapt to the limitations of their condition and maximise their quality of life, over and above that which can be managed by the team currently providing their care.

  • The need for end of life care.

  • The need for crisis respite care cannot be met by other services in his/ her local area.

  • The need for crisis management/intervention

  • The patient must be aged from 18 years for in –patient and day services. (Children and Young people can be referred to the out-patient Family Support Service.)

  • The patient lives in County Durham and has a registered GP who will continue to provide medical cover* while at the hospice for day and in-patient services.

*for in-patients, for the purposes of issuing prescriptions and MCCD/review may require a video consultation.

Making an In-Patient Referral video: https://youtu.be/jq1IDZllonc
Download: In-Patient and Day Services Referral Form

Referral Criteria Day Service
he day service is nurse-led and the philosophy of care is to support people to ‘live well with their illness’. Programmes provide appropriately focused sessions and social care which are designed to be responsive to patients’ needs and wishes. Medical/allied professional services are not available in the day hospice, therefore not suitable for treatment and rehabilitation, however patient cases may be discussed at the GPSI MDT session held weekly and the GP/referrer contacted for onward/additional referral if required.

  • The referral needs to identify a need for specific care for patients with a palliative/life limiting illness, having considered resources that may be available locally to the patient.

  • The referral needs to be discussed and agreed with the patient. The patient needs to require supervision from a registered nurse.

Making a Day Services Referral video: https://youtu.be/_NOoOGTw54c
Download: In-Patient and Day Services Referral Form

Referral Criteria Family Support & Bereavement Services
Support is provided from diagnosis, pre-death, post-death and is ongoing throughout the bereavement process. This support is offered not only to our in-patients in the Helen McArdle Wing and day care clients, but we also accept referrals from the community. Community referrals will be received by the Family Support Co-Ordinator who will complete an assessment to identify any need for counselling or other support.

Making a Family Support Referral video: https://youtu.be/qD4pT87P5PA

Download: Family Support and Bereavement Referral Form

Your Stories


"The care is outstanding, the staff are wonderful. Nothing is a bother. I count myself blessed to be able to end my days in such a wonderful place."

"I cannot imagine a more caring & positive day - Lovely atmosphere, full of surprises!"

"Our family can never thank Willow Burn and the team enough for the amazing care and compassion our Mam received. We all take comfort in knowing Mam could not of been in a better place to spend her last days. For that we will be eternally grateful."

MCcrory Family

“How do I thank you all? Where do I begin?  The care, love and support you showed my beautiful sister and also to our whole family was incredible. You are a superb team and you should be very proud of every shift you work.  There aren’t enough words or big enough words to continue...so in the words of my sister...if the only prayer you say in your entire life is ‘thank you’ that’ll be enough.  Much love to you all ”

Thank you!

Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you. Thank you.

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