Nursingunionbacks campaigntocutbills for families looking after vulnerablekids
The Royal College of Nursing Scotland has added its support to the campaign to give families of seriously sick children help with energy bills.
The leading nursing union, with more than 40,000 members, is the latest royal college to call for an urgent introduction of an energy tariff to lower crippling bills.
Colin Poolman, director of RCN Scotland, said: “Families across Scotland are struggling to cope with the cost of energy.
“Cutting back on energy use isn’t an option when it’s keeping your child alive.
“Nursing staff daily see the impact this has on families already under significant pressure, which is why we are adding our support for actions to mitigate the cost of energy for families in this situation.”
The RCN Scotland joins the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPEd), CHAS children’s hospices, Young Lives Vs Cancer, the Poverty Alliance, Carers Trust Scotland and others in demanding the immediate introduction of a social tariff for our most vulnerable families.
The Sunday Post recently revealed the heartbreak of Thomas and Lizzie McCartney, from Rosyth in Fife, who have a bill of more than £5,000 after caring for her much-loved son, Marley, at home. He passed away last autumn aged 12.
Marley had survived a near cot death and cardiac arrest as a baby and was dependent on 24-hour care at home.
We told of the plight of Ashley Sim, from the Borders, who cares for her daughter, Natalya, 11, who has an inoperable brain stem tumour.
The stoic mum owes her energy supplier almost £4,000 in heating costs run up caring for her terminally ill daughter at home.
We also told the story of the serious challenges Max and Kasia Nisbet, from Bo’ness in West Lothian, face in paying for energy bills to care for their son, Troy, two. Troy has major heart defects, is deaf, has restricted sight and is tube-fed.
Expensive energy bills seriously impact on Carolynne Hunter as she cares for her daughter, Freya, 13, at home in Clackmannanshire. The young teenager has cerebral palsy and relies on oxygen from an electricity-powered life support system.
The families are supported by CHAS. Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet helped the family after they launched a social media fundraiser for bills.
CHAS welcomed Winslet’s financial support but added that they are one of hundreds of families struggling to survive high energy bills.
Rami Okasha, CEO of CHAS, said: “Celebrities shouldn’t have to step in where governments have not.
“A good next step would be for the Scottish Government to enable families to recoup the running costs of lifesaving equipment.”
Scottish Energy Minister Gillian Martin said: “With average energy bills still nearly twice what they were two years ago, I am acutely aware that many thousands of households continue to face significant hardship.
“The Scottish Government is continuing to do everything we can within our limited powers to support as many people as possible. We trebled our Fuel Insecurity Fund to £30 million this year, and the bulk of this is set to be distributed throughout autumn and winter so that those who are most at risk of self-rationing or selfdisconnecting get tangible help when they need it most.
“We have allocated £9m to Advice Direct Scotland to continue delivery of their successful Home Heating Support Fund this year, which now offers up to £1,700 per household.”