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

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

St Raphael’s announced the proposed changes to staff on July 2 and has entered a period of consultation.

It’s also proposing to cut Community Clinical Services by 33 per cent as well as making cuts to 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 £1.1 million over the last few years, as a result of inflation.

During that time St Raphael’s has only received a £140k increase to its NHS funding.

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

Nick Stevens, St Raphael’s CEO 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 starved of funds but without more Government support, we simply have no option but to make these devastating cuts that will impact some of the most vulnerable people in our community facing the end of their lives.

“The prospect of having to make highly skilled, specialist palliative care clinicians and support staff redundant is totally unpalatable. Regretfully, these cuts will, without doubt, put additional pressure on the already stretched healthcare services in Merton and Sutton.

“This matter urgently needs to get the attention of our new Labour Government.

“The dying 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 forced to make these cuts due to immense financial pressures.

"A recent Hospice UK survey found that the financial stability of hospices across the UK has reached a critical point, with at least a fifth having already cut 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, which increases pressure on the NHS and costs taxpayers more.

“The new government must recognise the scale of this crisis and ensure proper 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 dedication of the individuals, companies and communities who have supported us over many years.

“We need your donations now more than ever.

“For anyone wanting to donate, please consider signing up to our Sponsor a Nurse campaign for a regular monthly donation to help our nurses reach more than 1,000 local people each year in the comfort of their own homes and on the ward at the Hospice, at no charge.”