The Sussex Palliative and End of Life Care and Bereavement Support Needs Assessment 2025/26 provides an evidence-based assessment of current and future needs across Sussex, covering adults, babies, children and young people, carers and bereavement support.
It was completed for the Sussex health and care system, led by East Sussex County Council and supported by a multi-agency steering group and partners across health, social care, hospices, local government and the voluntary and community sector.
Key findings
The assessment found that:
- People need to be identified earlier for palliative and end of life care.
- There is variation and inequality in access, care planning and coordination across Sussex.
- Improved community-based, coordinated and out-of-hours care is needed.
- Bereavement support can be fragmented and difficult to navigate.
- Demand is projected to increase significantly, with palliative care need expected to rise by around 25% by 2044.
The assessment sets out 10 strategic recommendations to support more equitable, coordinated, personalised and sustainable care across Sussex.
This needs assessment is also accompanied by Integrated Community Team (ICT) Palliative and End of Life Care supplementary data packs, available at:
- East Sussex Palliative and End of Life Care ICT profiles
- Brighton & Hove Palliative and End of Life Care ICT profile
- West Sussex Palliative and End of Life Care ICT Profiles
Key findings webinar
- Sussex PEoLC NA Key Findings Webinar accompanying slides 1.10.2026 (pdf, 844KB)
- Sussex PPC and BCYP EoL NA-Key-findings-Final-14_10_2026. (pdf, 933KB)
Acknowledgements
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this work, particularly people with lived experience, families and carers, members of the multi-agency steering group, and partners across the NHS, local authorities, hospices, social care and voluntary and community organisations.