Katharine House is located 4 miles south of Banbury and lies on the borders of Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire. The hospice palliative care service supports those people with life-threatening illnesses whose disease is not responsive to curative treatment. The aim is to maintain quality of life and for patients to remain in their own homes where this is possible or requested. Patients can be referred immediately after diagnosis or at a later stage in the illness. The hospice services run alongside other services and staff work closely with general practitioners and other health professionals. The hospice team comprises a medical team led by a Consultant in Palliative Medicine, a nursing team with specialist palliative care qualifications, other health professionals including physiotherapists, counsellors and chaplains. There is also non-clinical support staff and a very active fund raising team. In addition to the paid staff there is an an active volunteer team helping in all areas of the hospice. All staff and volunteers share a strong commitment to the philosophy of Katharine House which is to care for people and their families by addressing physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs through an individualised approach