Local solicitor champions NHS funding for seniors

One local solicitor is seeing his workload increase off the back of national revelations that Primary Care Trusts are being forced to change unfair policies that penalise families needing nursing care for sick relatives.

Macclesfield-based solicitor Lawrence Tudin, probate partner at SAS Daniels LLP, who is a member of Solicitors for the Elderly, believes that successful legal action is compelling primary care trusts to come clean with those who qualify for Health Service ‘continuing care’ payments.

“I’ve already been involved with cases of this type, and have managed to claim back as much as £80,000 for incorrectly charged nursing fees where the PCT should have paid, not the family,” said Lawrence Tudin, SAS Daniels LLP.

“Some PCTs are beginning to appreciate that informing people of their rights could save them from lengthy legal battles that end up costing much more in the long run. There has definitely been an increase in the number of families who have been denied funding they were entitled to.

“There will always be ‘grey areas’ – even with national guidance, different PCT’s interpret the rules differently and it can become a post code lottery. Families don’t understand why their relative hasn’t qualified for help and it leads to costly disputes.”

One of the biggest areas where help is desperately needed relates to the funding of long term care. SAS Daniels LLP recently launched a new service; SAS Later Life (www.saslaterlife.co.uk) which fills a void by providing information about access to legal services on all matters directly related to over-50s and their carers.

“With an ever-increasing and aging population, the wellbeing of older people is reaching a tipping point. Currently there is little information available except the numerous leaflets handed out by local authorities or from the incohesive information on the internet,” said Lawrence Tudin.

“With careful planning and our knowledge of the system, we can help to uphold the rights of older people who have built up savings over a lifetime of hard work, to manage or defer payments, or to obtain NHS funding for all care costs in appropriate cases. We have a record of success with this.”

SAS Daniels LLP has one of the largest Probate departments in the North West, including a team of four specialist solicitors dealing only with Older Client work.

SAS Daniels LLP solicitors has offices in Stockport, Macclesfield, Chester, Congleton, and Bramhall.