2 weeks Ago By Aasma Day
Macmillan Cancer Support is set to axe around 221 jobs in the latest in a wave of redundancies , with staff working for its vital support line for vulnerable patients among those facing the chop. One of Britain’s biggest and best known cancer charities, it has admitted it is facing financial pressures and needs to “work differently” and “do fewer things, but do them better” as it battles in the current economic climate. Due to inflation, Macmillan has seen its costs go up by about 25 per cent, while its income has remained stable at around £225m a year.
Whistleblowers have revealed to i that they believe the fresh wave of redundancies – which is currently under consultation – will have a direct impact on vulnerable cancer patients as almost a quarter of the proposed job cuts will come from Macmillan’s support line which is an invaluable lifeline to many people. Sources have accused Macmillan chiefs of “duping the public” as the charity is currently running an appeal on its website urging people to make donations. The appeal says funds will go directly towards the Macmillan Support Line – without making them aware that the number of staff working for the service may be drastically reduced.
The Macmillan Cancer Support Line is a free, confidential service that offers support for people with cancer. It provides specialist support including energy advice, welfare rights advice, financial guidance and work support advice. But under the redundancy proposals , for which the consultation period ends on 19 November, some of these services will no longer exist while others will be watered down, claim sources at Macmillan.
One insider told i : “Macmillan’s support line is one of the few services at the charity which has direct contact with cancer patients and people come to it in their moment of absolute need and desperation when they feel there is nowhere else for them to turn. “Staff working for the support line are distraught as they see it as far more than just a job. They are doing valuable work helping cancer patients and it is such a shock to think these services are going to be hit by redundancies.
“Almost a quarter of these latest 221 redundancies are proposed to come from the support line with the loss of 48 roles. “Staff are feeling so guilty and upset as they feel like they are lying to cancer patients who ring them as they are telling them to come back to them, while knowing they might not even be here.” One whistleblower said: “When you go to Macmillan’s website, on the very first page, it is asking people to make donations to the support line appeal.
But they’re not being fair to people as they are not telling them that actually, many of the support line services currently provided will be going as a result of these latest redundancies. “It feels to us that the public are being duped. They are being asked to put their hands in their pockets to help cancer patients while at the same time, services like the support line which help people are being massively cut.
It feels like we are being deceitful to people. “It is awful as we are dealing with such vulnerable people who have nowhere else to go as other services locally have already been decimated. “Some of these people are extremely poorly with cancer and maybe even terminally ill and are struggling with fatigue and memory loss and having to navigate very complex systems.
Without the specialist support they receive now from Macmillan’s support line, where will they go? It is very frightening and upsetting.” While the consultation is currently ongoing, i understands that teams on Macmillan’s support line including Financial Guidance, which supports people with cancer with things like pensions, insurances and mortgages and the Energy Advice Team, which helps people with heating costs during the cost of living crisis , are among those under threat of being axed. In a letter to affected staff, Macmillan states: “Demand for our services has surged and we aren’t reaching everyone who needs us right now, including people with the greatest needs.
“We must change how we support people with cancer so we can help more people now and in the future. “What this means for us in services is that we will remain committed to providing information and support as part of our offer to all, but we need to adapt our services and how we work to ensure we are reaching people with the greatest need. “We can’t afford to work in the same way and be there for everyone.
” Macmillan Cancer Support’s latest proposal to make around 221 employees redundant follows 156 roles being cut earlier this year and several rounds of job cuts in recent years. The charity also made changes to its executive team this year, including creating four new roles – its first chief people and culture officer, engagement, partnerships and finance and operations officers. Macmillan employed 2,019 staff on average last year and recorded a deficit of more than £30m.
It is anticipated that if the latest round of redundancies goes ahead, the workforce will plummet to just under 1,500 people. The letter continues: “We are facing significant financial pressures due to some of the highest levels of inflation . This isn’t a problem unique to our organisation, many others are in the same position.
“Thanks to our amazing supporters and fundraising teams, our income has remained stable. But the fact is that we would be needing to raise multiple millions more each year just to meet the increased costs we face. “We have already taken steps over the last 12 months to stabilise our finances and the changes we are proposing now will help secure our long term future.
“To rise to all challenges, we need to focus on making the greatest impact with the resources we have. “It will mean we do fewer things, but we do them better and ultimately make a bigger difference to people with cancer.” However, staff working across Macmillan are unhappy at the redundancies being sought as they believe they are being carried out in the wrong places and say morale is at an all-time low.
“We all understand the rationale for restructures, but the worry is where they are prioritising their cuts,” one Macmillan worker told i . “We always thought they would protect the services that are front facing. Services dealing directly with cancer patients should be the least affected.
They are making cuts in the wrong places.” Another Macmillan worker said: “I have been at Macmillan for years and cannot believe what they are doing to this organisation. It is being destroyed.
Morale has never been so bad.” One source said: “Money is being spent in the wrong places. It seems like senior managers are making decisions to cut vital services for cancer patients to ensure they keep their own high paid salaries.
” Read Next Cancer care 'worst in 14 years' and more will die without plan, No 10 warned A Macmillan spokesperson told i : “Our priority will always be ensuring everyone living with cancer gets the support they need. “Our Support Line is a vital part of how we do that, and our brilliant advisors will continue to be just a phone call, email, or message away. This year we are on track to support even more people than we did last year, and we’re confident that heading into the new year we’ll be supporting even more people who need us.
“With more people living with cancer, and their needs becoming increasingly complex, demand has surged, and we know we aren’t yet reaching everyone who could benefit from Macmillan’s support. “At the same time, inflation has increased our costs , meaning we have to fight harder for donations and to have the greatest impact with every pound we raise. “To ensure we can be there for everybody who needs us, we must work differently.
“That’s why over the last year we’ve worked closely with people living with cancer, our colleagues, healthcare professionals, and partners, to understand how we can evolve to make sure everyone living with cancer gets the best possible care today and in the future. “To do this we must focus on where we can have the greatest impact for people with cancer and continue to work closely with expert partners to connect people to specialist support when needed. “We have also worked hard to reduce costs where possible, including reducing the size of our organisation and very sadly this means we have to make some valued colleagues redundant.
“Throughout, our priority has been to protect the support we offer people with cancer. We are grateful to our incredible colleagues who have worked tirelessly to continue to do whatever it takes so that our vital work for people with cancer can continue.” In response to advertising its Support Line Appeal on its website, despite seeking redundancies from staff working for this service, the spokesperson said: “Every day, our incredible Macmillan Support Line advisors provide confidential support and practical information to people living with cancer and their loved ones.
“This will not change; our advisors will continue to be there for everyone who needs advice, support, or simply a listening ear. “As a charity funded almost entirely by generous donations, the money raised through our Support Line Fund will help us continue this vital support to people with cancer across the UK.” Around 98 per cent of Macmillan’s income comes from fundraising and legacies.
Fundraising events include everything from marathons and sponsored bike rides to its signature Macmillan coffee mornings. Macmillan gives specialist healthcare, information and financial support to people affected by cancer, as well as providing emotional and practical support and advice. It also provides means-tested grants of £200 to help with the extra costs that living with cancer can bring.
Chief executive Gemma Peters, joined the organisation in January 2023. She has said it is time for Macmillan to evolve again and that better is possible, but only if the charity works differently..
