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Fuel aid plea for cancer patients | Fuel aid plea for cancer patients |
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The UK's refusal to extend the winter fuel allowance for people with chronic illnesses is "absolutely outrageous", a leading cancer specialist has said. | The UK's refusal to extend the winter fuel allowance for people with chronic illnesses is "absolutely outrageous", a leading cancer specialist has said. |
Professor Karol Sikora said sufferers facing spiralling winter fuel bills should be given urgent help. | Professor Karol Sikora said sufferers facing spiralling winter fuel bills should be given urgent help. |
He said patients need to keep warm to get better. | He said patients need to keep warm to get better. |
The government says its disability living allowance aims to meet year-round costs and is more generous than the winter fuel allowance. | The government says its disability living allowance aims to meet year-round costs and is more generous than the winter fuel allowance. |
Terminally ill | Terminally ill |
Mr Sikora, whose organisation Cancer Partners UK runs independent cancer centres, said: "It's absolutely outrageous that cancer sufferers on treatment go home to sit in the cold for hours on end. | Mr Sikora, whose organisation Cancer Partners UK runs independent cancer centres, said: "It's absolutely outrageous that cancer sufferers on treatment go home to sit in the cold for hours on end. |
"We have got to do something about it and we have to do something now." | "We have got to do something about it and we have to do something now." |
Up to 400,000 need urgent help with their fuel bills, according to the charity Macmillan Cancer Support. | |
It says all terminally ill patients and those on some benefits should automatically qualify for the winter fuel allowance and be charged less for their energy use. | It says all terminally ill patients and those on some benefits should automatically qualify for the winter fuel allowance and be charged less for their energy use. |
But the government has said it has no plans to extend the payments. | But the government has said it has no plans to extend the payments. |
Winter fuel payments are annual tax-free sums paid to people aged 60 or over. | Winter fuel payments are annual tax-free sums paid to people aged 60 or over. |