St Helena Hospice, in Barncroft Close, announced in late 2024 that rising costs and insufficient government support created the perfect storm. Now, bosses at St Helena confirmed better news, as the financial situation has eased. “We continue to be here for people across north east Essex when they need specialist hospice care. “We continue to stand with our colleagues in other hospices up and down the UK who are struggling to keep their lights on. “We want to see long-term sustainable funding for palliative and end of life care, with annual uplifts that at least match inflation and wider cost increases, so that end of life care is treated the same way the NHS funds healthcare at all other stages in life.”