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Fuel aid plea for cancer patients Fuel aid plea for cancer patients
(about 3 hours later)
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 illTerminally 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, which have doubled in the last year, according to the charity Macmillan Cancer Support. 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.