Grant cut forces hospice to axe more services

A HOSPICE has announced that further services have been axed due to ongoing financial pressures.

- By KALI LINDSAY

St Cuthbert’s Hospice, in Durham city, was forced to close a number of services earlier this year and members of staff from multiple departments in the organisation were made redundant following a consultation period.

Now the service has announced it will be closing its Community Outreach and Dementia Services at the end of September.

The services were able to operate through grant funding but the hospice says it has been unable to secure funding to continue the services, while three members of staff have also been affected by the closure.

A statement posted on social media reads: “Earlier this year, we made the sad announcement of redundancies at St Cuthbert's Hospice across many different teams and departments.

"This action was due to unsustainable rising costs, growing pressure due to the cost of-living crisis and an increasing reliance on donations, with only 42% of funding coming from central government.

"This action resulted in the closure of the Adult Bereavement Service and a reduction of our Living Well Centre care.