The hospice which serves Pinner and Stanmore has announced it is making several of its expert nurses redundant due to a severe funding crisis.
Alpana Malde, Chief Executive of St Lukes, said the decision was not easy.
She explained: “To protect our future ability to provide high quality end of life care, we have had no choice but to cut staff to reduce our costs”
The team which has been cut, provided a free expert support service to many local care homes. Despite reducing unnecessary and distressing hospital admissions for people near the end of their life, the service received no NHS funding.
The hospice has been warning that they have been unable to meet demand for some time and is relying heavily on dwindling savings.
Alpana Malde said: “This is a very painful time for all involved. The award-winning work of the Care Home Support Service is highly recognised. This is a huge loss to the local community”
St Luke’s cares for over 1,600 people in Harrow and Brent every year, with two thirds of the care provided in people’s homes.
Alpana Malde said: “Every pound we receive means we can continue to give expert care, delivered with compassion and dignity. Demand for our services is increasing and it is vital that we are well funded to keep providing the best end of life care possible for local people”
To support free local end of life care. Text WECARE to 70085 to give £3 a month. Text costs £3 plus a standard network rate.
The charity employs 180 staff and is supported by 850 volunteers
My Husband passed away here. It was an overnight stay We arrived by ambulance. The team of doctors and nurses came out to greet us. The Nurse said to me “We will do everything now”.
My Children arrived.They gave us a room to sleep in that night and a bed for my son to be near his Dad. The children came down through the night .I did not, I knew he would not go if I was there.
An Irish nurse came on duty and said he will go before lunch.The priest gave the last rights.My daughters and I were sitting by the bed .My son in-laws and son chatting, one laughed we looked up and he was gone,There was a door opened to the garden very lit by very bright sunlight .There was a white light everywhere. I asked the priest after “Was there a very bright light in the room “ He said Yes .Saint Luke’s Hospice should remain open forever a gateway to the other World. We will be forever grateful.