A COLCHESTER hospice rubbished rumours proposed changes to services would see a cut to front-line staff.

St Helena Hospice, based in Highwoods, said it planned to increase staff.

Last week the Gazette reported St Helena was planning to change how its day and community services were delivered, but chief executive Mark Jarman- Howe stressed overall care would benefit, not decrease.

Now, in a further statement, he said: “To suggest the changes are motivated by cost-cutting, or that there is any intention to reduce the expert clinical workforce, is simply not true.”

Read more in today's Gazette.