Since September 2025, North London Hospice (NLH) has faced high demand for its community services across Barnet, Enfield and Haringey.

To ensure that the hospice is continuing to support its patients as effectively as possible, it has agreed with the commissioner that it will manage referrals differently. 

While the hospice remains open to referrals, it will prioritise people who require Specialist Palliative Care in domiciliary settings, to ensure that they are seen as soon as possible. They are more vulnerable than those in nursing and care homes, as there is no immediate support on hand. 

The change will affect referrals for people being cared for in the nursing and care homes where they reside. While the team works through the outstanding referrals, it will no longer chase for information for referrals that are not fully completed and these will be rejected. The hospice is unable to accept referrals from nursing and care homes for people who do not require Specialist Palliative Care interventions. Those requiring complex symptom management will continue to be supported. 

Telephone advice can still be sought through the hospice's Care Coordination Centre, however, referrals cannot be accepted from nursing and care homes when patients are stable. 

Please note: NLH does not accept referrals solely for the purpose of completing fast track assessments as it is not the Appropriate Clinician under these circumstances. The responsibility for this rests with the clinician who knows them best and can articulate the rapid deterioration required to meet the fast track criteria.

This change came into effect on 17 December 2025. If you have any questions, email the NLH team.

This news item was updated Monday 9 February 2026.