Hospice jobs at risk over 'funding crisis'

A Nottinghamshire end-of-life care service has said rising costs and a drop in "real terms funding" have led to it putting 17 employees' jobs at risk.

Nottinghamshire Hospice, based in Woodborough Road in Nottingham, said a "national hospice funding crisis" had left it facing an extra £190,000 in costs for 2025-26 and a predicted £800,000 overall financial deficit.

The charity said staffing costs accounted for £4 of every £5 it spends, and has placed 17 employees at risk of redundancy in a bid to protect its "core" at-home palliative service.

The Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) said it was investing £100m in the UK's 220 hospices to make the sector "sustainable in the long-term".

But Nottinghamshire Hospice said: "Whilst any form of financial assistance is welcomed, it does not support hospices to pay staff, which is their main cost."

Announcing the redundancy proposals, Nottinghamshire Hospice said despite donations providing "the majority of funding", NHS income had fallen "in real terms" while costs have risen "across the board".

It said an additional £190,000 costs had been created by the rise in National Minimum Wage and National Insurance contributions next year.

The "strategic decision" to look at making redundancies affects 17% of the charity's workforce and will "protect" its Hospice In Your Home services which it said supported nine out of 10 patients and families.

Chair of trustees Joanne Brunner said the hospice needed "to act now".

She said: "As the population of the country continues to get older, the demand on our services will increase.

"2025 is our 45th year serving the community of Nottinghamshire, and it is imperative that we have a sustainable organisation that can deliver care for the next 45 years to an increasing number of people."

Chief executive Rachel Hucknall added it was a "challenging time" for its staff and the proposals were "not taken lightly".

A DHSC spokesperson said: "We recently announced the largest investment in hospices in a generation.

"This £100m fund will improve facilities and allow hospices to focus their attention and wider resources on providing the best care to patients.

"Ministers continue to work with partners to make the sector sustainable in the long term, including via our 10 Year Health Plan."

NHS England did not wish to comment when approached by the BBC.

Charlie King from Hospice UK, which represents more than 200 hospices, said it was "saddened" by the announcement and said it planned to continue working with the government on "long-term reform" for the sector.

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