Job losses loom as St Raphael’s Hospice Cheam proposes £1m cuts

Jobs are at risk at St Raphael’s Hospice in Cheam as the charity faces a £1million budget cut.

St Raphael’s Hospice in Cheam announced this week that it has been forced to make substantial cost savings and is proposing £1m of cuts across the charity, including redundancies.

St Raphael’s announced the proposed staffing changes on July 2 and entered a consultation period.

It also proposes to cut community clinical services by 33%, as well as cut medical and psychological support teams.

The hospice, which provides specialist end-of-life and palliative care and support for adults living in Merton and Sutton, has seen its costs rise by £1.1m in recent years due to inflation.

During this time St Raphael’s only received a £140,000 increase in its NHS funding.

St Raphael’s receives funding for just a quarter of its running costs from the NHS, the lowest percentage of all nine adults in London, according to Hospice UK, the sector’s umbrella body.

Nick Stevens, CEO of St Raphael, said: “Inflation rises have hit us and the entire hospice sector hard.

“The gap between our operating costs and our NHS funding is no longer sustainable.

“The NHS is underfunded but without more government support we simply have no choice but to make these devastating cuts which will affect some of the most vulnerable people in our community facing the end of life.

“The prospect of having to make specialist palliative care doctors and support staff redundant is totally unpleasant. Unfortunately, these cuts will undoubtedly put further pressure on the already stretched health services in Merton and Sutton.

“This matter must urgently attract the attention of our new Labor government.

“The patient cannot be put on a waiting list.”

Toby Porter, CEO of Hospice UK said: “It is incredibly sad to hear that St Raphael’s Hospice is being forced to make these cuts due to huge financial pressures.

“A recent Hospice UK survey found that the financial stability of UK hospices has reached a tipping point, with at least a fifth already cutting services or planning to do so.

“Despite community support, state funding has not kept pace with rising costs.

“This situation cannot continue.

“More and more hospices are cutting vital services and staff, increasing pressure on the NHS and costing taxpayers more.

“The new government must recognize the scale of this crisis and ensure adequate funding for hospices to continue their vital work.”

Kate Billingham Wilson, director of fundraising and communications at St Raphael’s Hospice, added: “Our current financial situation is no reflection on our incredible donors and we are so grateful for the continued giving of the individuals, companies and communities who have supported us over time. happy birthday

“We need your donations now more than ever.

“For anyone wishing to donate, please sign up to our Sponsor a Nurse campaign for a regular monthly donation to help our nurses reach over 1,000 local people every year in the comfort of their own homes and on the Hospice ward at without payment.”