People suffering from the debilitating motor neuron disease may not be given free personal care even if they have a doctor’s note to prove they are dying, a leading charity has claimed.
Terminally ill people are being charged for services they should receive for free depending on where they live, according to Motor Neuron Disease Scotland.
Dundee City Council uses its “discretion” to decide if someone should pay even if they have presented a DS1500 form from their doctor, used by the Department for Work and Pensions to fast-track benefits for people who are terminally ill.
Fife Council does not charge anyone for personal care, while local authorities in Angus, Perth and Kinross, Stirling and Falkirk do not require payment if a DS1500 is presented.
MND Scotland is calling on councils to follow the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities’ guidance and is urging the Scottish Government to update legislation to force them to provide free personal care for the terminally ill.
Free personal care can include a range of assistance from bathing and showering to catheter/stoma care or help with food.
A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: “At the moment each case is treated on its individual merits and waiving fees is discretionary, but a review of the policy on charging for end of life care is currently going on.”
The Scottish Government said terminally ill people should not be charged for care.