Local doctors receive £250,000 in 'ash cash' payments

5.47.26pm GMT Mon 18th Jan 2010

Doctors working in the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust earned over £250,000 last year in so called 'ash cash' payments made by grieving families, figures released today by the Liberal Democrats have revealed. The payment is made to doctors to sign a form releasing a body for cremation. Last year payments were made on 1,815 occasions in East Kent.

Commenting, Guy Voizey, Parliamentary Spokesman for Canterbury and Whitstable Liberal Democrats, said: "This practice undermines the principle that the NHS cares for people from cradle to grave. It should be ended as soon as possible."