Sue Ryder to expand vital palliative and end-of-life care in Reading, Wokingham, Newbury and South Oxfordshire
Sue Ryder has been awarded a major new NHS contract to grow our expert palliative and end-of-life care services across Reading, Wokingham, Newbury and South Oxfordshire.
Starting in January 2026, the new services will help more local people living with life-limiting conditions access palliative and end-of-life care to manage their symptoms, provide comfort, and improve their quality of life, often in their own home.
Louise Lucio, Regional Director at Sue Ryder, said:
"This is a major step forward for people in Berkshire West and South Oxfordshire who deserve expert, compassionate care at the end of their lives."
“Too many people across the UK still face dying and grief without the support they need, and here at Sue Ryder, we want to change that."
"Our charity supports people who are dying to live well and supports families through grief. Our new partnership with the NHS here in the South East means we can reach more people earlier with our support, whether that is at home, in the community, or in Sue Ryder‘s specialist hospice beds.
“It’s a big step towards Sue Ryder's vision of a society where everyone gets the care and support they deserve at the end of their lives. We’re excited to be working with our partners in the NHS to help build a joined-up way of delivering the care people need, particularly for those who might be struggling to access palliative and end-of-life care.”
Watch the video to learn more
Sue Ryder's Regional Director for the South East, Louise Lucio, speaks with Zoe Woods and Dr Jane Bywater, to hear more about this exciting announcement and the opportunities this will bring to the local area.
Expanding services in the local area
The long-term partnership with the NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (NHS BOB ICB) will bring in a number of new and improved services, including a brand-new Hospice at Home service in Berkshire West, prioritising comfort and quality of life for patients who wish to be at home.
It will also see the launch of a ‘Virtual Ward’ service across the region, which will provide hospital-level care to people in their own homes to help keep them out of hospital.
Included in the new-look service will be a dedicated out-of-hours clinical advice line for patients, their families and their carers alongside bereavement support, therapy and wellbeing services.
Zoe Woods, Deputy Director of Transformation at NHS BOB ICB, said:
“Everyone deserves to feel cared for and supported at the end of their life and in their grief. This partnership with Sue Ryder means more people in our region will have access to the kind of compassionate, high-quality care that makes a real difference, not just to patients, but to families and carers too. We’re proud to be making this investment in our communities.”
Beginning in January 2026, the services will be delivered by Sue Ryder Nurses, care teams and volunteers, with the charity now making preparations ahead of the January launch.
Interested in joining our team?
This new agreement will also generate a number of new jobs for the region, and we are currently recruiting for Senior Healthcare Assistants to join our new Hospice at Home Team, which will be caring for communities in Berkshire West from the New Year.
Find out more about what it is like working in palliative and end-of-life care with one of the UK’s largest healthcare charities.
For more information
Find out more about Sue Ryder’s services or how to access support, or speak with your GP or lead healthcare professional.
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