Palliative care in the Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County (LUVN) is organized in collaboration with the palliative care center, home care, local hospital wards, residential services, and other units when needed. The palliative care center provides special-level palliative care as outpatient services at the palliative clinic, through home hospital visits, and as inpatient care periods in support wards. LUVN’s palliative care center also offers consultation support to Jorvi Hospital in Espoo, as well as to other wards and home care. The palliative care center and home hospital have service points in Espoo, Kirkkonummi, Lohja, and Raseborg.
Palliative care and hospice care services in Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County
The Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County has about 475,000 residents. Approximately 300,000 of them live in Espoo, and about 175,000 in other parts of the wellbeing area. Geographically, the area covers Espoo, Kauniainen, Kirkkonummi, Lohja, Inkoo, Vihti, Siuntio, Karkkila, Raseborg, and Hanko.
The palliative outpatient clinic operates on weekdays in LUVN’s units in Espoo, Lohja, and Raseborg. Patients visit the clinic with a referral from their attending physician. In Espoo, the clinic is staffed by 1–2 doctors and 1–2 nurses. There are also palliative outpatient services in Lohja and Raseborg.
The clinic’s tasks include assessing care needs, preparing a care plan and an advance care plan, as well as providing symptom-relieving medication and procedures, and psychosocial support.
The palliative unit and home hospital service points in Western Uusimaa are located in Espoo, Lohja, Raseborg, Kirkkonummi, and Nummela. Activities belonging to the palliative care center include palliative outpatient clinics in Espoo, Lohja, and Raseborg. Home hospital services are available in Espoo, Kirkkonummi, Lohja, and Raseborg. Espoo Hospital has two wards, Villa Bell and Villa Glims, each with 15 patient beds.
Patients are admitted to the palliative care unit based on a referral or consultation from their attending physician. Palliative care is organized according to the needs of the patient and their family, in line with the recommendations of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. Demanding special-level care is provided in cooperation with HUS and Terhokoti. Basic-level palliative care is supported through consultations and, when necessary, with assistance from the home hospital.
The home hospital provides hospital-level care in the patient’s home at all times of the day and week. The home hospital staff can be reached by phone and through home visits. Nurse home visits are available 24/7, while physician home visits take place on weekdays during office hours. If necessary, the patient can be transferred to inpatient care at local support wards. The home hospital also delivers end-of-life care support and specialized treatments to nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
The LUVN Palliative Care Center and Home Hospital include two dedicated palliative and hospice care wards at Espoo Hospital: Villa Glims and Villa Bell. Each ward has 15 patient beds. These wards support the entire wellbeing region. Additionally, there are support ward services in Lohja and Raasepori, organized in cooperation with other providers. For patients receiving palliative care at home, arrangements can be made to transfer them to a support ward if necessary. Ward placement is organized with consideration for the patient’s and family’s needs as well as their place of residence. For patients living in assisted housing, palliative and hospice care is primarily arranged within their own housing unit, with support from the home hospital when needed.
Palliative care is widely provided in all local service hospitals across LUVN. The Palliative Care Center and Home Hospital offer consultation support to all inpatient wards. Demanding special-level hospice care is also arranged at Terhokoti when required.
At Espoo Hospital, palliative care consultation teams assist both the wards at Jorvi Hospital (specialized healthcare) and the wards at Espoo Hospital (primary healthcare). The home hospital supports palliative care and end-of-life care for patients treated at home. The consultation team consists of a physician and a nurse specialized in palliative care. The team responds by phone on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to palliative care consultations for Espoo and Jorvi hospitals. At other times in Espoo, as well as in Lohja and Raasepori, consultations are provided by regional home hospitals.
The Mobile Hospital LIISA provides skilled diagnostics for residents in enhanced service housing and home care clients in cases of semi-urgent deterioration in condition, as well as minor wound care. The unit’s goal is to deliver safe and competent care to patients in their own homes. The Mobile Hospital initiates treatment on-site when necessary. Contact with the Mobile Hospital is always made by a healthcare professional. LIISA serves as a consultation support for the attending physician, while the responsibility for care remains with the treating unit (home care, health center, enhanced service housing, emergency department). LIISA services are available around the clock throughout the entire Western Uusimaa wellbeing area in units approved for the service.
Updated 18.11.2025