Marie Curie has changed its logo and website, and launched a new support line and other new services, as part of a rebrand to make it clear that the charity supports people with any terminal illness.

The charity has rebranded as part of a change in direction for its activities. The move follows a decision last to drop ‘Cancer Care’ from the end of its name.

The rebrand has involved a change in logo, away from the blue background previously associated with Marie Curie Cancer Care, but keeping an updated version of its iconic yellow daffodil.

In a blog post Jane Collins, the charity’s chief executive, said: “If you’re very close to what we do, you’ll already know that, while most of the people we care for have cancer, others have a whole range of illnesses, including heart or lung disease, dementia or motor neurone disease.

“But many people don’t know that, including people who may need our help.

“So we’re going to be making it clearer to the public, and to healthcare professionals, that we’re here for people with any terminal illness, including terminal cancer.”

Marie Curie’s new support line has been created to help people affected by terminal illness to “navigate the system and get the most from the time they have left”.

The charity’s rebrand was combined with the publication yesterday of new research entitled Changing the conversation: Care and support for people with a terminal illness now and in the future which “exposes inequalities in care and support for the terminally ill”. Marie Curie has called for a “radical rethink in care". 

The charity intends to increase the number of people it cares for, fund more research and work with others to improve the quality of care across the UK.

When asked how much the rebrand cost the charity, a spokesman said: "We continually update and refresh our brand materials, so this is part of our on-going work, it is not an isolated cost."

The charity had registered with Companies House to change its name in October last year, and received its certificate of change in company name last month.

Last year Marie Curie announced that it would be merging its marketing, fundraising, communications and policy and public affairs departments to create a new directorate.