Pembridge Hospice future uncertain as inpatient unit closes

25 July 2026

Pembridge Hospice's inpatient unit has closed due to workforce challenges, casting uncertainty over its future, though outpatient services continue to operate.

Councillor Dr Marc Goldfinger raised concerns about the hospice's future at a Kensington and Chelsea Council meeting on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Councillor Lucy Knight, Lead Member for Adult Social Care & Public Health, clarified that while the inpatient unit had closed, the hospice itself was not shutting down.

Councillor Knight stated that the closure of the inpatient beds was a result of workforce challenges. NHS Northwest London formally closed its inpatient units last July after they had been suspended since 2018 due to these issues. The closure means that patients who previously relied on the inpatient unit for specialist end-of-life care may have to receive care further from home. When someone needs specialist end-of-life care, being able to receive it close to home with the people they love nearby matters enormously, Councillor Knight noted.

However, Pembridge Hospice continues to provide a range of outpatient services, including clinics, day hospice services, and 24-hour hospice at home care.

The council is actively pressing the NHS to reopen the inpatient beds and is exploring options to protect the building's community value. Councillor Goldfinger suggested formally designating the building for community use to safeguard its value.

Councillor Knight acknowledged this possibility, noting that Pembridge Hospice is part of St Charles Hospital, which is owned by the NHS. This ownership is significant, as the NHS is responsible for the building and its services. Pembridge is part of St Charles Hospital, which is owned by the NHS, and as I have said, continues to provide outpatient services. The building remains in the NHS hands, and the NHS has given no indication at all that it plans to sell it, Councillor Knight stated.

The council will continue to work with residents to explore all options, including a possible nomination as an asset of community value, to protect the hospice's community value. We will work with residents to explore every option, including a possible nomination as an asset of community value, Councillor Knight added.

Further details on the council meeting can be found in the Public reports pack.

Councils Involved

Kensington and Chelsea

Meetings Involved

the Full Council of Kensington and Chelsea Council on 22 July 2026

People Involved

Cllr Tom Bennett Lead Member for Modernisation and Change Conservative Party Redcliffe

Cllr Anne Cyron (Chair, Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee) Conservative Party Abingdon

Cllr Janet Evans (Mayor) Conservative Party Courtfield

Cllr Preety Hudd (Vice Chair, Overview and Scrutiny Committee) Conservative Party Campden

Cllr Cem Kemahli Lead Member for Housing Conservative Party Royal Hospital

Cllr Abdullahi Nur (Deputy Mayor and Opposition spokesperson : Environment) Labour and Cooperative Party Dalgarno

Lisa Taylor

Joanne Hyde

Cllr Aarien Areti Conservative Party Holland

Cllr Laura Burns (Deputy Mayor and Vice-Chair, Licensing Committee) Conservative Party Chelsea Riverside

Cllr Sarah Addenbrooke Lead Member for Business and Communities Conservative Party Abingdon

Cllr Kasim Ali Leader of the K+C Labour Group Labour Party Notting Dale

Cllr Catherine Faulks Lead Member for Family & Children's Services Conservative Party Campden

Cllr Quentin Marshall (Chairman, Investment Committee) Conservative Party Courtfield

Cllr Lloyd North (Chair, Environment Select Committee) Conservative Party Campden

Cllr Portia Thaxter (Opposition spokesperson: Adult Social Care & Health) Labour Party Notting Dale

Cllr Linda Wade Liberal Democrats Earl's Court

Cllr Elizabeth Campbell Leader of the Council Conservative Party Royal Hospital

Cllr Sina Lari (Vice Chair, Investment Committee) Labour and Cooperative Party Golborne

Cllr Stéphanie Petit (Vice Chair, Family Services Select Committee) Conservative Party Norland

Cllr Greg Hammond (Chair, Licensing Committee) Conservative Party Courtfield

Cllr James Husband (Chair, Planning Committee and Planning Applications Committee) Conservative Party Abingdon

Cllr Walaa Idris (Chair, Family Services Select Committee) Conservative Party Brompton & Hans Town

Cllr Lucy Knight Lead Member for Adult Social Care & Public Health Conservative Party Holland

Cllr Josh Rendall Lead member for Transport, Parks, and Clean Streets Conservative Party Stanley

Cllr Mary Weale (Chair, Family Services Select Committee) Conservative Party Brompton & Hans Town

Cllr Emma Will Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Finance and Property Conservative Party Royal Hospital

Cllr Sidney Yankson (Vice Chair, Audit and Transparency Committee) Conservative Party Redcliffe

Cllr Sam Mackover (Vice-Chair, Environment Select Committee) Conservative Party Queen's Gate

Cllr Sof McVeigh (Chair, Audit and Transparency Committee) Conservative Party Brompton & Hans Town

Cllr Will Pascall (Chair, Overview and Scrutiny Committee) Conservative Party Stanley

Cllr Marie-Therese Rossi (Chair, Housing and Communities Select Committee) Conservative Party Redcliffe

Cllr Claire Simmons (Chair, Housing and Communities Select Committee) Labour Party Notting Dale

Cllr Kim Taylor-Smith (Chair, Planning Committee, Project Champion for North Kensington Library ) Conservative Party Stanley

Cllr Johnny Thalassites Lead Member for Resident Services, Planning, and Enforcement Conservative Party Holland

Cllr Heena Bellara Conservative Party Chelsea Riverside

Cllr Monica Press Leader of the K+C Labour Group Labour Party Colville

Cllr Dr Max Chauhan (Vice-Chair, Adult Social Care and Health Select Committee) Conservative Party Chelsea Riverside

Cllr Cihan Cheron Labour Party Colville

Cllr Sofia Gurrola Liberal Democrats Earl's Court

Cllr Peter Marshall (Opposition spokesperson: Planning) Labour and Cooperative Party Golborne

Cllr Billy Beckett Labour and Cooperative Party St. Helen's

Cllr Max Dodd-Noble Conservative Party Queen's Gate

Cllr Dr Marc Goldfinger Conservative Party Norland

Cllr Georgia Hardisty Conservative Party Pembridge

Cllr Nadia Nail (Opposition spokesperson: Family Services) Labour and Cooperative Party Golborne

Cllr James Ortiz Liberal Democrats Earl's Court

Cllr Alex Porter (Opposition spokesperson: Housing & Communities, Vice Chair, Housing and Communities Select Committee) Labour and Cooperative Party Dalgarno

Cllr Jack Reason Labour and Cooperative Party Colville

Cllr Natacha Tannous Ritchie Conservative Party Pembridge

Cllr Lucy Shaw Labour and Cooperative Party St. Helen's

Cllr Ned Whitley Conservative Party Queen's Gate

Topics

NHS Cllr Dr Marc Goldfinger Kensington and Chelsea Council Community value St Charles Hospital Lucy Knight nomination as an asset of community value Staffing Issues Pembridge Hospice