Terminal cancer patients are dying in cold homes due to energy costs, stark new research reveals

New research, funded by the Irish Cancer Society, reveals stark levels of energy hardship experienced by cancer patients receiving palliative care at home.

Of the nurses surveyed, one in 3 nurses providing end of life care in homes across the country say they have experienced patients’ homes without any heating. 

Meanwhile, 3 in 5 nurses reported households had difficulty paying bills like mortgage, rent and utilities.

And 2 in 3 nurses reported that their patients struggle to afford home heating while almost half (46%) reported that there were no central heating systems in the homes they are working in.

The research was carried out by a team led by Dr. Suzanne Denieffe of South East Technological University (SETU).

Further, hugely concerning findings also reveal that nurses reported observing damp (64%), mould (50%) and condensation (70%) in the homes where they are delivering vital palliative care. Nurses report that these conditions can have a physical and mental impact. 

Responding today to the stark findings, Averil Power, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society, said: “To think of anyone in their final days not having adequate heat is absolutely heartbreaking. The very least we should be able to provide to someone with a terminal illness like cancer, is comfort. 

“This research shows these patients, and their families are suffering needlessly at an already highly stressful and emotional time.

“At the Irish Cancer Society, we have long campaigned and called for targeted financial support from the Government to help those who have received a cancer diagnosis deal with the cost of cancer. 

“The experiences of patients reflected in this research underlines why the Government needs to better financially support all people diagnosed with cancer, including palliative care patients. Specifically, we are calling for patients to be automatically entitled to the Household Benefits Package, the Fuel Allowance Payment, and the Additional Needs Payment. 

“Each year, more than 9,000 people die from cancer in Ireland. All anybody wants is for their loved one to be comfortable and to live well at the end of life. The end result of ignoring these calls is cancer patients dying in cold homes.”

Dr. Suzanne Denieffe, Research Lead and Head of the School of Humanities at South East Technological University (SETU), said: “People deserve a good quality of life as they are dying

“Our research sheds light on the hidden costs of cancer often experienced in the privacy of a person’s home. Now, we must bring this conversation into the public domain to highlight the needs of people living with a life-limiting cancer. We know that people need support, and we have brought together the evidence base and recommendations for the Government to take action.”  

In light of these stark findings, the Irish Cancer Society is today reiterating its calls, which have been made to successive Governments in pre-budget submissions, to introduce the following:

• Expand the Household Benefits Package to include those with a cancer diagnosis;
• Automatically extend eligibility to the Fuel Allowance payment to people diagnosed with cancer immediately and ensure access to the full 2023/24 entitlement;
• Extend the Additional Needs Payment to people with a cancer diagnosis to alleviate some of the financial burden; and
• The burdensome application procedure with a means test should be waived for this group and a cancer diagnosis should be the only qualifying criterion for accessing the payment for a cancer patient or their carer.

Anna Drynan Gale, Night Nursing Team Lead at the Irish Cancer Society said: “In my Night Nursing role, I have attended many homes over the years and have experienced first-hand that energy hardship can be a real challenge, regardless of their Eircode.” 

“I have attended to patients in homes where the internal temperature has been dictated to by financial concern rather than choice, evidence of condensation, mould and damp were apparent, contributing to respiratory problems and adversely affecting a patient’s immune system; specifically in immune-compromised patients following chemotherapy. 

“Notwithstanding the detrimental impact that coldness and damp play on a patient’s physical and mental wellbeing. All palliative care patients need and deserve targeted support with energy costs as well as access to a range of non-means-tested entitlements, which the Irish Cancer Society has repeatedly called for."