
‘My daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia aged 11 – and the NHS tried to charge us £17k for her treatment'
A Latvian mother who was sent a £17,000 bill for her daughter's NHS cancer treatment is taking legal action against the government.
The mother, listed as M in the legal challenge, said the bill 'was overwhelming and came completely out of the blue' and is taking legal action to argue that European nationals who apply late for settled status should be able to maintain their right to free healthcare in the UK.
She and her daughter now have settled status in the UK under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and despite seeing some of the fees waived after challenging it with their NHS trust, are still facing costs of around £2,000.
The mother came to the UK in 2014 and was joined by her young daughter in 2017. She successfully applied for status under EUSS in 2019 and then made an in-time application for her daughter, which was rejected in December 2021.
At the time of her daughter's rejection, the mother had been locked out of her email account and therefore didn't realise the application had been refused. This only became apparent in early 2023 and she then made a second application, which was granted in June 2023.
During that period her daughter was diagnosed with leukaemia in February 2021, and underwent treatment at the North West Anglia NHS Trust. The now 15-year-old daughter went into remission in July 2023, but nearly a year later, in May 2024, the family were sent an unexpected bill for £16,635.81.
The charge was for the treatment received between the deadline to appeal her daughter's initial residency refusal, and the date the mother reapplied.
Due to delays in updating the new digital status system for EU citizens, the daughter did not appear to have a refused application when she went to the NHS for treatment.
During this period, when the system hadn't updated, some 141,000 settlement applications were refused.
The mother explained her shock on finding out that her daughter wasn't entitled to healthcare, saying: 'Finding out about this debt has been very stressful for my daughter. She thinks it is her fault. She knows I cannot afford to repay this amount of money.
'I tried to ensure that my daughter had applied on time and did not realise she did not have status under the EUSS. She now has settled status because the Home Office allowed me to make a late application for her.
'It does not seem fair that the NHS trust is not taking into account these circumstances and is now asking me to pay for so much of her treatment.
'Realising that other families might be in the same position made me determined to take legal action, so that they don't have to go through this stress and suffering.'
Niamh Grahame, lawyer at the Public Law Project, explained their claim, saying: 'People who make a successful late application to the EUSS are still charged for their treatment before the date on which they make the late application.
'We are arguing that this policy breaches the Withdrawal Agreement and unfairly treats people differently for making a late application where the government has accepted that they had a reasonable excuse for doing so.
'The intention behind the Withdrawal Agreement was that the rights of EU nationals and their family members who moved to the UK before Brexit should be continuously protected. If you meet the criteria for a successful application, it should not matter when you apply.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
40 minutes ago
- The Independent
The Inkey List's glycolic acid exfoliating stick worked magic on my keratosis pilaris
If you struggle with keratosis pilaris (also known as strawberry skin – a build-up of keratin within our skin pores) or sore razor bumps, then listen up. The much loved-affordable skincare brand The Inkey List may have produced the answer to our collective grumbles. Having sold out after its original launch, this stick claims to reduce the appearance of keratosis pilaris, razor bumps, hyper-pigmentation, breakouts and ingrown hairs. Results are promised after just one week, and drastic improvements are said to be visible after a month of consistent use. How does this miracle product work? Well, it's a combination of skin-loving hero ingredients. The glycolic acid is used to exfoliate the skin's surface and remove dead cells that leave the skin feeling rough, bumpy and uneven in tone. Salicylic acid helps to unclog oily pores, which is what causes issues like breakouts and ingrown hairs. Finally, shea butter offers a hydrating and moisturising effect. Chemical exfoliants have become the way of the future, and after testing this product, I'm beginning to see why. Here's how I got on with this miracle stick. How I tested Using the exfoliating stick every night for the last two months, I targeted keratosis pilaris on my arm, as well as underarm razor bumps and dry heels and elbows. I followed instructions carefully, starting by only using the stick two or three times a week and building up to every night once my skin had gotten used to it. To assess the product's efficacy, I looked for two things, appearance and texture. I noted any decrease in redness and improvement in brightness and paid close attention to any changes in the dryness or bumpiness of my skin.


The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
I always lose my erection when I'm with my girlfriend because she reminds me of my late mother – it feels like incest
DEAR DEIDRE: SEX with my girlfriend is a flop – and I'm worried it's because she reminds me of my late mother. She's not my normal type at all, but I love being around her. It's just whenever we try to have sex, I lose my erection. I'm 57 and have been divorced for four years. A few months ago, I decided to try dating again. I quickly met my now girlfriend, 48, on a dating site. I generally like petite, dark women, and she's tall and curvy with blonde hair, just like my mother was. That did unsettle me a little, but I brushed the thought away. Her personality instantly attracted me. She is so warm, kind and funny, and she has a successful career. We had lots of interests in common too. When we met up, I realised I had developed strong feelings for her. Being around her felt comfortable and easy. We had lots of kisses and cuddles, and held hands in the street. So, the first time we went to bed together, I wasn't worried. But, within a couple of minutes, I lost my erection — and whatever we tried, I couldn't get it back. This has never happened before. I've tried to reassure her that I do find her attractive, but it's starting to affect our relationship, and I'm now questioning whether the problem is her resemblance to my mother. The thought that my interest in her is some sort of weird incest thing makes me feel sick. Of course, I haven't mentioned this subject to her. Please help before she leaves me. DEIDRE SAYS: Being attracted to someone who looks like your mother isn't uncommon, and doesn't mean you ever wanted an incestuous relationship. Perhaps you're so comfortable around this woman because she feels familiar. But now you've focused on this, it has understandably become a turn-off. And, like any psychological problem affecting sex, the more you worry, the more your erection problem happens. Then again, you're now 57, so it's possible there's a physical reason behind your inability to sustain arousal. See your GP to rule out any health problems. My support pack, Erection Issues, has more information about this. Sometimes, taking sex off the table for a while helps arousal to come back naturally. And the better you get to know your girlfriend, the less like your mum she will seem. FAMILY LEFT ON THE BRINK OVER VIOLENT YOUNGER SIS DEAR DEIDRE: MY younger sister is spiralling out of control, it's destroying our family. She's become increasingly violent and, the other day, when we had a row, she punched me in the face, leaving me with a black eye. I'm scared she's going to seriously hurt someone – or herself. She's 26 and I'm her 29-year-old big brother. She's had behavioural problems since she was a teenager and has dabbled with drugs and alcohol too. Yesterday, our dad tried to talk to her, and she threatened to jump out of the window, just to get attention. Our parents are at a loss as to how to deal with her. They are distraught and I can see it's taking a toll on their health. I know she needs professional help – maybe even to be sectioned – but I don't know where to start. DEIDRE SAYS: Few people realise how much someone's mental health struggles impact the whole family. You're right to be concerned and it does sound like your sister needs specialist help. You and your parents also need support. Contact Rethink Mental Illness ( which helps people with mental health problems, and their loved ones. It has a Siblings Network. If she's in denial, you could also try talking to your sister's GP. Tell them you're worried she's a danger to herself and others. BLOKE'S PLAYING WITH MY FEELINGS DEAR DEIDRE: I KNOW I should leave my on-off boyfriend, but every time I break up with him, he love bombs me until I take him back. I don't feel like he's really there for me and whenever he lets me down, I end up turning to drink. We've been in a relationship for five years and are both in our mid-30s. When we first started seeing each other, he was the perfect boyfriend – making me feel I was special. Then he disappeared. I was just starting to get over him, when he came back and started up with the love bombing again. Since then, we've been in this constant pattern. Our relationship is always conducted on his terms. It's making me feel so confused and I have no idea how he really feels about me. But I still love him. DEIDRE SAYS: This relationship doesn't sound healthy for you. Love bombing someone isn't the same as loving them – it's manipulation. He seems incapable of committing to a proper relationship, and after five years, things are highly unlikely to change. You deserve better. Read my support pack, Addictive Love, for more advice on how to deal with this type of relationship. Counselling could help. Perhaps it's time to take control and walk away from him for good. FEEL GUILTY FOR JAILING VILE EX DEAR DEIDRE: WHEN my abusive ex was sent to jail for his violent behaviour, I thought I'd finally feel safe and happy. But instead, I just feel sorry for him and I'm scared that when he comes out he will convince me to take him back. We were together for ten years and have a daughter together. I'm 30 and he's 42. He was physically abusive throughout our relationship and it got worse when I was pregnant. I often felt in danger for my life. For a long time, I was scared to leave. Then I became afraid he'd start on our little girl. I told him I wanted to break up. He said if I left, he'd break both my legs and put me in hospital for months, so I couldn't look after her. I went to the police and got a non-molestation order. But he broke it. As he had previous convictions, he ended up being sent down for three years. I can't move on. I keep thinking about him, feeling guilty that he's in jail because of me. I still love him and worry he might manipulate me into giving him another chance. What can I do to stop feeling like this? DEIDRE SAYS: He's in prison because of his own actions. You protected yourself and your daughter which was the right thing to do and have no reason to feel guilty. But your conflicted feelings are natural. You have a child together, and presumably some happy memories. Try to remind yourself how much he hurt you emotionally and physically. Talking to one of the organisations listed in my support pack, Abusive Partner, and having counselling, will help you to work through your feelings and to build your strength so that you're in a stronger place mentally when he comes out. You can also get legal advice from Rights of Women ( 020 7251 6577).


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Cancer breakthrough as doctors unveil way to zap tumors into oblivion without chemo
A new cancer treatment that uses light could remove the need for harsh chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Texas researchers have devised a way to use infrared light as a jackhammer that can tear cancer cells apart from the inside, showing in trials to have eliminated melanomas, the deadliest form of skin cancer. A synthetic blue dye often used in hospital imaging naturally binds to cancer cells. Researchers found that when the cancer cells were zapped with infrared light, it triggered violent shaking that tore through the cancer cell's membrane, causing it to die without any heat or harsh drugs. The latest breakthrough method – known as vibronic-driven action – had a 99 percent efficiency against lab cultures of human skin cancer cells, and half of the mice with melanoma tumors became cancer-free after just one treatment. 'It is a whole new generation of molecular machines that we call molecular jackhammers,' said Rice University nanotechnologist Dr James Tour. Near- infrared light can penetrate up to 10 cm into the body, reaching organs and bones without surgery. Light particles can also be functionalized to only bind to cancer cells, mitigating damage done to healthy cells. The treatment itself is highly targeted because the atoms of dye bind to the receptors on cancer cells while leaving healthy cells largely untouched. It has already shown in followup trials to kill colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer cells. The next step will be determining whether this same molecular jackhammer will destroy cancer cells in humans. 'This study is about a different way to treat cancer using mechanical forces at the molecular scale,' said Ciceron Ayala-Orozco, a Rice research scientist who is a lead author on the study. If scaled up to human patients, the treatment's impact could be sweeping. An estimated 1.5 million Americans are living with melanoma, 1.4 million have colorectal cancer, and 300,000 men have prostate cancer. In 2025, approximately 316,950 women will be diagnosed with severe, invasive breast cancer. The unassuming dye found in hospitals nationwide is a key feature of vibronic-driven action. After it binds to receptors on melanoma cells, it is assaulted with infrared light, which triggers an earthquake in the cell. The dye atoms begin to vibrate in unison. The dye's electrons sync up into a "plasmon"—a wave of collective motion. This energy couples with the molecule's natural vibrations, making the entire structure shudder at 41 trillion times per second. The violent oscillating energy is transferred directly into the cell's fatty membrane, while nanoscale holes tear open, allowing fluid and foreign molecules to flood in. This fast-moving mechanical force is such that 'anything around it will be disassembled,' Ayala-Orozco said. The cancer cell crumbles as the holes poked in its membrane increase, and dies without further use of any drug or radiation treatment. The Texas team's findings were published in the journal Nature Chemistry. The above graph shows the estimated cancer diagnoses for 2025 by cancer type. Breast, prostate, and lung cancers are expected to be the most common cancers this year Ayala-Orozco said: 'These molecules are simple dyes that people have been using for a long time. They're biocompatible, stable in water and very good at attaching themselves to the fatty outer lining of cells. But even though they were being used for imaging, people did not know how to activate these as plasmons.' After struggling for years to make blue-light-activated motors work against mouse tumors, Ayala-Orozco turned to explore completely different approaches. 'I started to think that maybe what I needed was not necessarily a motor, but a molecule that absorbs near-infrared light, in the hopes that this molecule could be activated and could move in a different way — not necessarily by rotation,' he told Healio. 'That's when I started thinking about some molecules called cyanines and started connecting the dots with a property from photophysics called plasmons, which I studied during my PhD to treat cancer. They are activated by near-infrared light. At some point, I decided I had to try this.' When researchers turned their microscopes on other cancer types, they made an exciting discovery: the molecular jackhammers proved just as devastating against prostate, breast, and colorectal cancer cells in petri dishes. 'No matter which line, we are able to eliminate 100 percent on cell culture,' Ayala-Orozco said. The university will need to partner with a private company to scale up, overcome regulatory hurdles, and enter human trials, 'hopefully, within 5 to 7 years,' Ayala-Orozco said.