8 Daily Express Thursday, August 8, 2019
DX1STBy Hanna Geissler
Health Reporter
Is in 8.5pt helvetica bold
except when it’s on a
picture when its helyveticDownton actor hands No 10
your demands to speed up
benefits for the terminally ill
We want to spend precious time with
our families, not fighting the system
By Hanna GeisslerDavid Setters, with wife Helen, is campaigning for others with MND
DAVID Setters, who has motor neu-
rone disease, was among campaigners
who gathered outside Number 10.
The 62-year-old was diagnosed
with the terminal illness in Sept-
ember 2012.
He had been experiencing symp-
toms for two years, and after doing
research was somewhat prepared
when his diagnosis was confirmed.
However, David hid his illness from
his three children, who were then in
their mid-20s.
He said: “That was the hardest thing- I had to tell them I had MND just
before Christmas.”
David, who lives with wife Helen in
Surrey, said he is doing everything he
can to support this campaign as he
feels it is his duty. “We’re not asking
for more money,” he said.
“While that would be nice, we are
simply asking for fast-track access to
the benefits people with terminal ill-
nesses need and deserve so affected
families don’t have to waste time
fighting the system and instead can
spend more precious time together,
making memories.”
David was forced to give up his job
as managing director of a publishing
company in the City three years ago.
He added: “I am fortunate to have a
relatively slowly progressing form of
MND and so have time to advocate on
behalf of those for whom progression
is much quicker.
“Half of people die within two
years of diagnosis – with that type of
nuclear bomb dropping on your fam-ily, especially if you have young chil-
dren, you shouldn’t have to waste pre-
cious time fighting the system.”
Another petitioner was Mark
Hughes, who faced “a nightmare” try-
ing to claim benefits after he was diag-
nosed with terminal cancer.
The 57-year-old, of Great Wakering,
Essex, had been living with the dis-
ease for 11 years when doctors told
him it had spread to his bones in 2011.
He said: “I told the DWP I was una-
ble to continue working and a few
days later I got the first set of forms
to fill in.
“I had numerous letters from them
over months with the same questions
being asked over and over again.
“Sometimes forms were sent by
mistake – I was having to deal with all
of this while still dealing with the
news that I was terminally ill.
“This is still going on today, even
though they said I wouldn’t be
bothered until 2025. Every time I get
a letter from the DWP, I’m worried.”CRUSADE
COMPASSION
FOR THE DYING
and they need changing now.” Clinical
nurse specialist Liz Hayles, who works
on the Marie Curie support line, said
her team often has to warn patients
filling in claim forms that the letters
they will receive from the Department
for Work and Pensions are “insensi-
tive”. She said: “Every day we hearthe stories of patients and their fami-
lies who are fighting for the benefits
they should be entitled to.
“People shouldn’t have to deal with
this added stress at the most difficult
time of their lives.”
A DWP spokesman said:
“Terminally ill people can get theirclaims fast-tracked and access to bene-
fits without a face-to-face assessment.
“We recently announced that we’re
undertaking a comprehensive evalua-
tion of how we treat those with severe
conditions and terminal illnesses to
ensure these vulnerable people get
the support they need.”Promised
DOWNTON Abbey star Jim Carter
joined campaigners at Downing Street
yesterday to demand swift changes to
benefits rules for terminally ill people.
A petition with more than 55,
signatures was delivered to the Prime
Minister’s door, urging him to cut red
tape for the dying.
Campaigners are calling on the
Government to scrap a rule that
means claimants can only be fast-
tracked if a doctor or nurse says they
have less than six months to live.
The petition was started by charities
Marie Curie and the Motor Neurone
Disease Association (MNDA).
Marie Curie ambassador Mr Carter,
70, said: “Thank you to all the Daily
Express readers who sent in letters,
adding their name to the total.
“It seems ludicrous that, instead of
enjoying life with their loved ones,
dying people have to spend time fill-
ing in forms and attending interviews
with benefits advisers, or must even
go to coaching sessions aimed at
getting them back to work.
“Every day 10 people die while
waiting for the benefits they need.
That can’t be right – and is why I’ve
signed the petition along with tens of
thousands of other people across the
UK who are urging the Government
to end the cruel benefit system for
dying people.”
Work and Pensions Secretary
Amber Rudd has promised a review,
but campaigners said a change in the
rules must happen soon as “dying
people can’t wait”.
Dr Nik Sharma said the current
benefits system was forcing doctors
to make “impossible predictions to
satisfy an arbitrary time limit”.
The consultant neurologist and
MNDA trustee said: “For patients
with complex conditions, predicting
when someone is going to die is often
all but impossible.
“As clinicians, it is enormously frus-
trating knowing that because we can’t
give an exact prognosis our patients
could face incredible financial and
emotional distress.
“And this is all because of a rule
that was made up by politicians nearly
30 years ago. The rules need changing
Jim Carter with Dr Nik Sharma, third from left, and campaigners outside No10 yesterday. Inset, Jim with the petitionPictures: JONATHAN BUCKMASTER