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Palliative care and hospice care services in Helsinki

There are about 680,000 inhabitants in Helsinki. Helsinki provides its inhabitants with various palliative care and hospice care services.

The Palliative centre in Helsinki provides special-level palliative care and hospice care either in an outpatient setting, at home, or as inpatient care in units specialised in palliative care and hospice care.

The Palliative centre personnel is multiprofessional and has special training. In addition to physicians and registered nurses, the Palliative centre care team includes a hospital chaplain, psychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and a social worker, as well as volunteers.

Patients are referred to the Helsinki Palliative centre by a doctor. The Palliative centre takes overall reponsibility for the patient’s care once the decision is made to move into palliative (symptomatic) care. The centre provides care for patients with cancer as well as other chronic illnesses. The place of care is chosen based on the patient’s needs and wishes; as the situation changes, transferring from one unit to another within the centre, like from home to hospital or vice versa, is flexible and doesn’t require a visit to the emergency department.

For patients from Helsinki, demanding special-level hospice care takes place at Terhokoti hospice. The payment voucher (“maksusitoumus”) is granted by HUS Palliative Center.

Helsinki At-home Hospital includes its own palliative outpatient clinic, which provides symptom‑focused care consultations and follow‑up for patients living in Helsinki. Access to the palliative outpatient clinic is by physician’s referral. The clinic operates at Suursuo Hospital and is open on weekdays. The service is provided by a physician and a nurse. When the palliative outpatient clinic is closed, patients can, if necessary, contact their local home hospital at any time of day, around the clock.

The At-home Hospital provides hospital-level care for Helsinki residents over the age of 16 in their homes and at the At-home Hospital infusion clinic. Admission to At-home Hospital care requires a doctor’s referral. At-home Hospital operates around the clock, and a doctor is available during office hours.

At-home Hospital enables the palliative and end-of-life care the patient needs, both in assisted living and at home. Long-term care and support at home are provided by home care services. A palliative patient in the home hospital can, if desired, transfer to a hospital ward (the so-called support ward of the home hospital). The support wards of Helsinki’s home hospital are located in Suursuo Hospital.

Suursuo Hospital is one of Helsinki’s hospitals. Ward 11 and Ward 21 specialize in palliative care and end-of-life care. Patients are admitted to these wards with a doctor’s referral, either from other Helsinki wards or directly from home via the At-home Hospital service. The palliative care team includes doctors, registered nurses, and practical nurses, as well as a physiotherapist, social worker, psychologists, and a hospital chaplain. Volunteers and hospital musicians also visit the wards.

The goal of care on both wards is to provide the best possible holistic treatment. Symptom management is carried out with medication and nursing interventions around the clock. Depending on the patient’s condition and wishes, rehabilitative care may be offered, and efforts are made to enable discharge home. During the end-of-life phase, a calm environment is arranged so that family members can spend as much time as possible with the patient. The whole family, including dog visitors, is welcome. In the end-of-life stage, relatives are offered the possibility to stay overnight next to the patient, and the care team provides emotional support to both the patient and loved ones during this difficult time.

Updated 18.11.2025