Hospices

Heart of Kent Hospice

Preston Hall, London Road, Aylesford, Maidstone ME20 7PU

Overview

Heart of Kent Hospice is a specialist palliative care organisation located at Preston Hall in Aylesford, Maidstone. The hospice provides compassionate end-of-life care and support services to patients across the Kent region who are living with serious illnesses, particularly cancer and other life-limiting conditions. The organisation is dedicated to improving quality of life for patients and their families during challenging times.

The hospice offers a range of services including inpatient care, day care programmes, and community support services that allow many patients to receive treatment while remaining at home. The team comprises trained healthcare professionals, nurses, doctors, and support staff who focus on symptom management, pain relief, and emotional wellbeing. Heart of Kent Hospice also provides bereavement support and counselling services to families both during and after a patient's care.

As a healthcare provider serving the local community, the hospice relies on funding from charitable donations, grants, and partnerships with NHS services. The organisation welcomes referrals from GPs, hospitals, and other healthcare professionals for patients requiring specialist palliative care support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Heart of Kent Hospice in Maidstone provides specialist palliative care for people with life-limiting conditions. Services may include inpatient care, day hospice services, hospice at home (care in your own home), outpatient clinics, bereavement support for families, lymphoedema clinic, complementary therapies, and counselling. All care focuses on comfort, quality of life, and dignity. Contact 01622 792200 for information about available services.
Yes, all hospice care at Heart of Kent Hospice is provided free of charge to patients and their families, regardless of financial circumstances. Hospices receive some NHS funding but rely heavily on charitable donations, fundraising, retail shops, and legacies to fund their services. It costs millions of pounds each year to run a hospice, with a significant proportion raised through community support.
Referrals to Heart of Kent Hospice are usually made by your GP, hospital consultant, or district nurse. You or your family can also contact Heart of Kent Hospice directly on 01622 792200 to discuss a referral. Referrals are based on clinical need — anyone with a life-limiting condition can be considered. You do not have to have cancer to be referred; hospices care for people with any advanced illness including heart failure, COPD, motor neurone disease, and dementia.
No, hospice care is not just about end-of-life care. Many patients visit Heart of Kent Hospice for symptom management (pain relief, breathlessness, nausea), rehabilitation and support to stay as well as possible, respite stays to give carers a break, and day hospice activities and therapies. Some patients attend for weeks or months and then return home. Hospice care aims to help you live as fully and comfortably as possible.
Heart of Kent Hospice may offer complementary therapies including massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, Reiki, acupuncture, mindfulness and relaxation, creative arts therapy, and music therapy. These therapies complement medical treatment and can help with pain, anxiety, sleep, and overall wellbeing. All therapies are provided by qualified practitioners and are free to patients.
Yes, Heart of Kent Hospice welcomes visitors and families. Visiting is usually flexible, with no strict visiting hours in the inpatient unit. Family rooms and overnight facilities may be available for relatives who wish to stay close. Children are welcome to visit. The hospice environment is designed to be calm, comfortable, and homelike. Staff will support families throughout their loved one's stay.
Yes, Heart of Kent Hospice provides bereavement support for families and loved ones after a patient has died. This may include one-to-one counselling, bereavement support groups, telephone support, memorial services, and children and young people's bereavement services. Support is available regardless of whether the person died at the hospice or elsewhere. Contact 01622 792200 for information about bereavement services.
Heart of Kent Hospice supports people with any life-limiting condition, not just cancer. Conditions include advanced cancer, heart failure, COPD and other lung diseases, motor neurone disease (MND), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, advanced dementia, kidney failure, and liver failure. Referral is based on clinical need, and the hospice team works alongside your GP and hospital team.
The day hospice at Heart of Kent Hospice provides a programme of care and activities for patients who live at home. You may attend one or two days per week for medical review and symptom management, complementary therapies (massage, aromatherapy, reflexology), creative activities (art, music), social interaction and peer support, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, and psychological support. Transport to and from the day hospice may be arranged.
Yes, Heart of Kent Hospice can help you with advance care planning — documenting your wishes for future care. This may include an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment (living will), Lasting Power of Attorney for health and welfare, preferred place of care and death, and a ReSPECT form (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment). Having these conversations and documents in place ensures your wishes are known and respected.
Heart of Kent Hospice may offer a Hospice at Home service, bringing specialist palliative care to patients in their own homes. This may include visits from specialist nurses, overnight care and sitting services, symptom management, practical support, and emotional support for patients and families. Hospice at Home allows people to be cared for and, if they wish, to die in the comfort and familiarity of their own home.
You can support Heart of Kent Hospice by making a donation, volunteering your time, shopping at or donating to charity shops, taking part in fundraising events, leaving a gift in your will (legacy giving), organising your own fundraising activity, or becoming a regular donor. Contact 01622 792200 or visit the website to find out more about supporting your local hospice.
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Contact Details
Phone
01622 792200
Website
www.hokh.org/
Address
Preston Hall, London Road, Aylesford
Maidstone
ME20 7PU
Social Links
Opening Hours
Monday 09:00 - 17:00
Tuesday 09:00 - 17:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 09:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00
Saturday 09:00 - 17:00
Sunday 10:00 - 16:00
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