St Giles hospice cuts 21 jobs and 8 beds amid 'funding crisis'

The Birmingham-based hospice has made cuts to address a £1.5 million funding deficit

Author: Alice SmithPublished 12th Nov 2024
Last updated 13th Nov 2024

A Birmingham hospice says it's been forced to cut eight beds and 21 jobs due to a 'funding crisis'.

St Giles Hospice - which has locations in Whittington and Sutton Coldfield - says it'll focus on its core services in a bid to address a £1.5 million funding deficit.

The hospice has reduced the beds in its Inpatient Unit from 23 to 15, marking what it calls one of the 'most significant changes' in the organisation's 40-year history.

Elinor Eustace, Interim CEO of St Giles Hospice, said:

"We remain fully committed to providing outstanding end of life care to local people and their families, where and when they need it.

"However, the landscape in which hospices operate is evolving, and St Giles needs to adapt to keep up with changes and challenges currently being faced in palliative and end of life care, whilst ensuring good financial management.

"Following careful consideration and consultation, we have consolidated our services to focus on our core specialist palliative care provision.

"While these decisions have been incredibly difficult, they are essential to safeguard the future of our services and ensure the long-term survival of St Giles," she said.

The hospice says, like many in the sector, its experienced a real-terms reduction in statutory funding, while simultaneously managing significant increases in operational costs.

It points to a collective £77 million funding for hospices across the UK.

St Giles also says the cost-of-living crisis has impacted income from donations as supporters face their own financial challenges.

Robin Vickers, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said:

"Our priority throughout this process has been to maintain the highest possible level of care while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our services.

"We have consolidated our Community care provision to create a seamless journey for our patients, specifically retaining and combining our Advice and Referrals Centre, Hospice at Home, Respite and Community nursing services."

A government spokesperson from the Department of Health and Social Care said:

“We want everyone to have access to high-quality end of life care and are aware of the financial pressures facing the hospice sector, and of the huge generosity of the British public, whose donations provide a significant proportion of hospice funding.

“We are determined to shift more healthcare into the community and ensure patients and their families receive high-quality, personalised care in the most appropriate setting, and hospices will have a big role to play in that shift.”

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