NHS 'failing terminally ill'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.NICHOLAS TIMMINS
Public Policy Editor
Some terminally ill people are being offered only "three to four weeks" care by health authorities trying to exclude too many of the dying and incurably ill from their entitlement to free NHS care, according to the Department of Health.
Others, sometimes in virtually neighbouring authorities, are being offered up to 12 months' terminal care - just one of the dramatic local variations in the levels of continuing NHS care that have started to emerge from new eligibility criteria which health authorities are due to implement from April.
The criteria have been drawn up on ministers' instructions after fierce criticism by the Ombudsman of Leeds Health Authority for discharging a profoundly brain damaged and helpless 55-year-old man to means-tested care on the grounds that doctors could no longer improve his condition.
But a review of the criteria authorities will now apply has shown that some are still attempting to exclude such cases, the Department of Health's NHS Executive said yesterday. And others have set time limits on "palliative care" - relieving the symptoms of terminal or incurable disease - when such limits should not be set.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments