Pensioners to find out 'within weeks' if they will get Winter Fuel Payment
Pensioners to find out 'within weeks' if they will get Winter Fuel Payment
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner indicated that an update on Winter Fuel Payments could be announced next month after Sir Keir Starmer pledged to restore the benefit
The update may come earlier than expected
(Image: WalesOnline/ Rob Browne )
Plans to restore Winter Fuel Payments to more pensioners could be unveiled as early as next month, according to Angela Rayner. The Deputy Prime Minister hinted that the Spending Review, scheduled for June 11, may provide an update on the matter.
The Labour Government had previously limited the annual payment of up to £300 to only those receiving certain means-tested benefits, such as Pension Credit or Universal Credit, in an effort to address a £22 billion 'black hole' in the public purse. However, with the UK's economic prospects improving, Sir Keir Starmer expressed his desire to reinstate the payments to "more pensioners," at the next "fiscal event".
While many expected this to happen in the Autumn Budget, Ms Rayner suggested it could happen sooner.
She stated on Sky News' Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: "I think that we've got the upcoming Spending Review, and I'm sure that the Chancellor will set it out when we've got the opportunity, at the first opportunity, she will set out what we'll be able to do."
When asked if the Spending Review would definitely include details on the Winter Fuel Payment, Ms Rayner replied: "I don't know, but I hope so.
"I mean, the Prime Minister has announced it, so logically to me that indicates that the Prime Minister wants to do something in this area. And if the Prime Minister wants to do that, I'm sure the Chancellor is going to look at how we can achieve that.", reports the Daily Record.
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Ministers are mulling over the reinstatement of the payment for all but the wealthiest pensioners, as reported by the Sunday Times, yet there could be a hold-up in its distribution this winter due to outdated computer systems.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called for the immediate return of the Winter Fuel Payment. During her appearance on BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, she stated: "We need to restore it right now.
"We would never have taken the winter fuel (payment) away. We kept it for 14 years - we brought in the Triple Lock - we look after pensioners."
In contrast, earlier this year, the Scottish Government declared that every one of the 1.1 million pensioners residing in Scotland would get a minimum of £100 this winter.
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First Minister John Swinney confirmed to the Daily Record last week that payments of either £100, £203 or £305 would be made by St Andrew's Day on November 30.
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However, Mrs James said this diagnosis was not verbally relayed to her or her daughter by medics at the hospital. She said: "They didn't tell her 'community acquired pneumonia'. We sat in the waiting area and they said they think she may have a chest infection and that she should take antibiotics as a precaution." She added that if the word 'pneumonia' had been used it would have struck the family as more sinister in that early stage of her illness developing. The following day, on Tuesday, Mrs James said her daughter was determined to go to university to deliver a presentation that was important to her. Bethan was well enough to drive herself to university, but was 'absolutely exhausted' by the time she got home, it was heard. She developed numbness in her right arm and continued feeling short of breath, the inquest was told. Over the next few days Bethan developed more symptoms including involuntary movements in her right arm and difficulties using her right arm and hand. It was heard how she struggled to hold a cup and had problems holding her arm above her head. In addition it was heard how Bethan was suffering abdominal pain and nausea to the point of being unable to 'tolerate food '. 'On Tuesday she could drive, and by Sunday she couldn't hold a cup in her hand,' Mrs James told the inquest. Due to her worsening symptoms Mrs James said she took her daughter to accident and emergency (A&E) at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff on Sunday, February 2. Mrs James said she clearly remembers the day, including telling the triage nurse about the previous appointment in Llandough. In response, she said the nurse was 'abrupt' which upset her daughter. She explained how Bethan was seen by one particular doctor who was 'dismissive' of her chest symptoms. She said he did not think it was of 'any significance'. She said he spoke to A&E consultant Dr Chen Wen Ngua for advice as well as to neurology registrar Dr Mark Willis. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. It was heard how the outcome of this hospital trip was that Bethan's symptoms were likely the result of a hemiplegic migraine. Mrs James said: 'I don't feel on the 2nd that they fully assessed her.' Mrs James became emotional when she described how on Monday, February 3, her daughter had collapsed because she was 'so exhausted' from being at hospital. Following this Mrs James said an ambulance was called and although paramedics arrived her daughter said she did not want to go to hospital, having felt dismissed by various medics and exhausted by the hours of waiting around she had already endured. It was heard how paramedics noted that Bethan's heart rate was high, but that she couldn't be forced to go to hospital. Two days later, on Wednesday, February 5, Bethan's symptoms persisted in her right arm, and she had also developed numbness and issues with her right leg. Myself and my husband knew we needed to do something to try and find out what was going on,' Mrs James told the inquest. She said they took her back to A&E at the University Hospital of Wales. During this visit Mrs James said they encountered Dr Ngua for the second time. She described him as "very, very dismissive" of her daughter and recalled that he told her daughter words to the effect of: 'You again! You were here on Sunday.' He said on reflection Bethan's high heart rate could have been investigated further. Mrs James said while in the hospital waiting area a medic came and did an observation of her daughter. During this, she explained how her heart rate appeared unusually high. Mrs James said the medic assumed that the machine was broken, but that the family believe it was more likely that Bethan was being dismissed and that her heart rate really was that high. Coroner Patricia Morgan asked Mrs James whether she thinks her daughter should have been admitted at this point. 'Definitely,' she said. 'She was so unwell. They didn't appreciate how unwell she was.' Mrs James added that it was only when she threatened to contact health board seniors that medics agreed to arrange a follow up appointment with neurology. Meanwhile, Bethan could 'barely walk out of the hospital,' she said. The family was advised to return to the hospital the following morning for the neurology referral, Mrs James said. However, upon their arrival she said there was 'no record' of the referral appointment and that medics had 'no idea' why they were there. She described this as 'appalling'. Mrs James said: 'Again her heart rate was off the scale and they said the machine was not working - it probably was just her heart rate and it was dismissed again.' Mrs James added that throughout the assessment, which was with Dr Willis, her daughter's respiratory symptoms were not investigated. She noted a comment made by Mr Willis that she found inappropriate during the assessment. She said: 'He said he had seen a 17-year-old girl with similar symptoms and that she is now symptom free and fine. I have no idea how he could say this to Bethan without diagnosing her.' She said Dr Willis did organise for blood tests to happen that day, but that Bethan was so dehydrated by the time that these came about that medics could not draw blood. Bethan was advised to get these done at her GP instead. Mrs James added: 'I felt they just wanted Bethan out of there as soon as possible.' Speaking during the inquest Dr Willis said he made the comment in an attempt to show compassion and reassure Mrs James. He added: 'I'm sorry to hear Mrs James feels she wasn't listened to.' Answering questions from the family's advocate, Richard Booth, Dr Willis said it was unusual for neurology assessments to result in hospital admission. He said when examining Bethan he found only mild weakness in her right arm. He addressed that neurological symptoms of the nature experienced by Bethan were rare in cases of sepsis. On Saturday, February 8, Mrs James said her daughter had been in bed all afternoon. By the afternoon she said she was watching rugby with her daughter and trying to encourage her to eat. By 4pm Mrs James said her daughter 'looked dreadful' with bags under her eyes and nails so pale she thought she was wearing white nail polish. On a number of occasions Mrs James recalled asking if she could call for an ambulance, but in response her daughter reiterated that Dr Willis said she would soon be fine. However, she called 999 that evening. The first person to arrive was a rapid response paramedic named Paul Humphries. Mrs James said Mr Humphries could not record Bethan's blood pressure properly. In hindsight Mrs James said she now knows this is a sign of sepsis. She said the 'signs' of sepsis were 'right in front' of Mr Humphries. The inquest heard how initially Mr Humphries called for a P3 ambulance response, which refers to a low priority. He later escalated this to a P2. Mrs James said: 'I don't know why someone doesn't get a P1 when they are so unwell.' Speaking during the inquest Mr Humphries said in hindsight he believes he dealt with Bethan appropriately. He added: 'I didn't come away from that incident thinking I did a bad job.' When the ambulance turned up Mrs James said she didn't sense any 'rush' to get her daughter to hospital. She finally arrived at 7.45pm following a 12 minute journey, it was heard. Mrs James described that on arrival at the University Hospital of Wales they had to wait in the ambulance outside the hospital for some time. She said they 'now know' there was a bed available, claiming her daughter wasn't 'deemed unwell enough' to have it. At 8.10pm Ms James was triaged before she went down to resus at 9.15pm. Mrs James said it occurred to her that her daughter was only at this point going down to where she needed to be to receive help, some three hours after the ambulance had been called. She described there being 'chaos' at the hospital as medics struggled to administer a line into Bethan, and with nobody clearly in charge of her care. Mrs James said she believes it should have been administered in her daughter's neck instead for easier access, or that she should have been taken down to intensive care. All the while this was ongoing Mrs James said her daughter was awake, could 'hardly breathe' and was 'so scared'. After some time Mrs James said an anaesthetist came down and Bethan was put to sleep. Mrs James said she felt that with that her daughter's body lost its ability to fight. She said she was asked to leave at around 9.25pm before she was told her daughter had a cardiac arrest. She recalled being told medics were working on Bethan and if she wanted to be with her as she passed away. 'As soon as I walked in, I knew she was dead,' Mrs James said. She commented that a sepsis protocol should have been put in place early on. She said her daughter 'should have had the right care straight away'. She added: 'It's heartbreaking as a mum to know that her life could have been saved. They didn't know what they were doing.' The inquest continues.
