Consumer Scotland has set out proposals to the Scottish Government on how to deliver its promise of energy bills support to terminally ill people.
It comes after First Minister John Swinney backed the Sunday Mail’s Lifeline for the Dying campaign to protect dying patients struggling with household fuel costs. In his Programme for Government last month, he pledged cash support “relating to life-saving equipment in people’s homes” and for “the energy costs of those with a terminal illness”.
Terminally ill patients often rely on essential medical and mobility equipment at home and can need extra heating to manage pain and for comfort. A total of 7,700 dying patients have been plunged into fuel poverty in recent years as energy costs have skyrocketed.
Targeting support through benefits system
In a new discussion paper, Consumer Scotland said it would be easier to target support towards terminally ill Scots using the benefits system than for patients who require medical equipment at home, and that these two groups should be “considered separately”.
Its report said: “While the unavoidable higher energy costs faced by terminally ill patients may in part be due to the need to use at home medical equipment, there are other drivers of additional costs for these patients.
“For example, an enhanced heating regime is recommended for vulnerable groups, and these groups may face higher electricity costs through increased use of washing machines and electric showers to maintain good hygiene, provide comfort and reduce the risk of infections, especially if their condition or treatment causes them to be immunocompromised.
“Further, it is currently more straightforward to target and deliver additional financial support to terminally ill consumers in Scotland through devolved social security mechanisms.”
By contrast, it said there is “no equivalent national mechanism” for providing support to users of home medical equipment.
Proposed payment and costs
The consumer agency has proposed providing eligible Scots a payment of up to £450 for additional energy at a cost to the public purse of between £4-6 million. It said a scheme providing support to all with medical equipment at home would be more complex and cost at least £10 million.
The Sunday Mail launched its campaign in March, backed by all parties, to end the scandal of Scots dying with the stress of soaring energy bills, which can be up to 75 per cent higher than the average household’s.
Carolynne Hunter, 52, of Tillicoultry in Clackmannanshire, whose daughter Freya, 15, receives palliative care, has cerebral palsy and requires full-time oxygen from an at-home life-support machine, said: “There are thousands in a similar position and they need help.
“To have a straightforward support package for people administered through Social Security Scotland would be a good thing.”
Consumer Scotland chief executive Sam Ghibaldan said: “We have welcomed the Scottish Government commitment to provide additional support for the terminally ill and users of home medical equipment to account for the impact of their higher essential energy expenditure.
“We will now work with the Scottish Government and other key organisations to deliver this commitment.”
The Scottish Government said it is “determined that everyone receives compassionate and high-quality care”, adding: “We will consider the findings of this report.”
