TERMINALLY ILL ARE PLUNGED INTO POVERTY

89% face financial worries.. and too scared to heat their homes

- SASKIA ROWLANDS

THOUSANDS of terminally ill people and their families are living in poverty - with some too terrified to heat their homes, a shock survey reveals.

Carers have found patients lying in distress, curled up under blankets for hours in damp homes.

Data from end-of-life charity Marie Curie found 89% of staff have patients with cash woes.

Some 83% said those in their care could not afford energy bills.

And 56% were very concerned for those with a terminal illness.

Gillian Payne, a healthcare assistant for Marie Curie in Cornwall, said lack of financial support is "making people's illnesses worse".