When faced with reducing the number of employees, you must consider all the alternatives before deciding that you need to make one or more of your employees redundant. It is a difficult and emotional process, which demands that you handle it correctly. You need to reassure those involved that you will be following a fair and objective procedure, so explain what will happen and the timescales involved and emphasise that you will consider all suggestions that might remove the need for redundancy.
Having a plan will help you manage the redundancy process correctly and know what needs done and when. Involving your practice manager early can make the process easier; they should carry out discussions with your staff, the redundancy process and the consequent restructuring of your practice.