Concerns for continuing care patients

9.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 29th Jun 2007

Lib Dems in Cambridgeshire are demanding to know how many people will lose out on continuing care following the introduction of a complicated new national test.

The launch of the 'National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care' has been criticised by charities for the elderly who are concerned that 6 out of 10 families will still be facing unfair care bills of more than £600 per week .

Councillor Geoff Heathcock, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Health and Social Care at the County Council, has raised the issue with senior management at Cambridgeshire Primary Health Trust. He commented:

"Too few people qualify for free continuing care at the moment and there are so many hoops for patients and their families to jump through. I am very worried that we will still see too many vulnerable people missing out.

Cllr Geoff Heathcock

"We need to give those struggling with serious illness all the help they need based on their clinical needs - not on health trust budgets."