Seventeen roles are at risk as an end-of-life charity looks to make changes to its services in response to “unprecedented financial pressures”.
Farleigh Hospice provides palliative care to adults in mid-Essex and offers bereavement information and support to grieving adults and children.
The charity has opened a staff consultation with 17 staff at risk of redundancy.
It said 11 staff would be competing for a reduced number of posts in back office support and frontline positions.
“With great regret, the charity is also reducing its bereavement services for adults, young people and children,” the charity said.
“These services will now focus on providing support to the families and carers of patients supported by Farleigh Hospice.
“Unfortunately, Farleigh does not receive any statutory funding for these services and recent trust and grant funding applications have been unsuccessful.
“There has been no change to the care services provided to patients in their own homes and in the specialist inpatient unit.”
Farleigh Hospice recorded an income of £30.2m, costs of £31.2m and had 352 staff according to its latest accounts, for the year to the end of March 2025.
Michelle Kabia, chief executive of Farleigh Hospice, said the charity “very much regrets” having to say goodbye to “valued and dedicated colleagues”.
Kabia said: “But we need to take these necessary steps now to secure Farleigh’s future for years to come.
“This is a challenging time with difficult decisions that need to be made.
“But we are confident that, by doing so, we will be more resilient and in a stronger financial position to provide the best possible care and support to local people living with life-limiting illnesses, and their families.”
Kabia will join colleagues from other hospices who are gathering in Westminster today to call for more government funding in the sector.
Charlie King, director of external affairs at Hospice UK, said: “It is incredibly sad to see Farleigh Hospice having to make these difficult decisions.
“But they are not alone. Hospices across the country are facing rising costs and growing financial pressures, while demand for their care continues to increase.
“We are urgently working with the government to secure the sustainable funding that hospices need for the future.”