Hospice cuts 19 jobs including nursing roles

A hospice in Derbyshire has confirmed 19 roles have been made redundant across clinical and support teams, including five inpatient unit nurses.

Ashgate Hospice, in Chesterfield, announced in October it had put 52 roles at risk of redundancy and warned it would have to "scale back" services in a bid to save more than £2.6m.

The end-of-life care service, which employs 378 people, cited inflation, rising energy bills, and staff salaries as contributors to rising running costs.

The hospice said no services would stop completely, but some would continue with reduced capacity or through a new structure, so they could "remain sustainable for the long-term".

Bosses said a recent community fundraiser, which raised more than £244,000, had kept two additional inpatient beds open for at least nine months.

The money also protected four full-time nurse posts and three full-time healthcare assistant posts, all on fixed-term contracts.

A spokesperson from the hospice said: "This has been one of the most difficult periods the hospice has faced in recent years.

"Throughout the consultation, colleagues across Ashgate showed professionalism, honesty and compassion.

"Care for patients remained outstanding, and staff shared thoughtful and constructive feedback, which played a meaningful role in shaping the final decisions.

"We continue to speak up for fair and sustainable funding from the NHS so that Ashgate can remain here for future generations."

In the new year, hospice bosses said they planned to meet Derbyshire MPs, regional NHS leaders and health minister Stephen Kinnock to try to work towards resolving the funding challenges.

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