The NAO report describes how independent hospices offer additional services that are typically outside the remit of the NHS, for example certain complementary therapies, funded from hospices’ charitable donations. Hospices offer support to the family, friends and carers of those receiving palliative and end-of-life care, for example through counselling and bereavement support. Many hospices provide training in palliative and end-of-life care to a broad range of healthcare professionals, including to the NHS, and some hospices undertake clinical research.57