Cash handed out for care

FAMILY doctors have been given a £240,000 cash boost to improve community care for the terminally ill in Huddersfield.

The money will be used to supply more nursing hours to patients at home, for a dedicated social worker and more training for community health workers.

Kirkwood Hospice will receive additional funding and a project will be launched to improve access to services for ethnic minority patients with terminal illnesses.

A statement by Huddersfield Central and South Huddersfield NHS Primary Care Trusts said: "We welcome any additional funding that helps provide better services for local people.

"We will spend it in the best way possible."

Huddersfield Central receives £166,000 and South Huddersfield £76,000.

The cash is part of a £50m national allocation by the NHS.

North Kirklees Primary Care Trust receives £135,000 and Calderdale £203,000.

In the last three years there has been a drop in the overall death rates from cancer in the under-75s by 10% which is on track for the 20% target by 2010.