[United Kingdom] 'Cuts to hospice care are a tragedy'

[United Kingdom] 'Cuts to hospice care are a tragedy' 
BBC News, United Kingdom; by Helen Drew and James W. Kelly; 9/22/24 
A south London hospice has made several staff redundant and cut services because funding levels are failing to meet rising operating costs, its chief executive has said. Nick Stevens said St Raphael's Hospice's operating costs have risen by £1m over the last four years but only received a £140,000 uplift from the NHS, which provides a quarter of the charity's funding. Among the cuts was the disbandment of the "hospice at home" service which serves the local area. ... Mr. Stevens said they have had to reduce their clinical nurse community team by 20%. "That is a real tragedy. We've lost members with decades of expertise and experience who have supported hundreds of people through the last stages of their lives," he said. Mr. Stevens described such staff as "irreplaceable" and their loss will have a "detrimental impact" on the services offered by the hospice. 
Editor's Note: This trend continues to grow throughout the United Kingdom, with huge fundraisers to help pay costs. What implications might it have for the United States, or not?