WEST HERTS HOSPITAL DOCTORS PARTICIPATE IN 'ASH CASH' PAYMENTS

2.50.00pm GMT Mon 18th Jan 2010

In the week when he is coming to St Albans to speak on the future of the NHS, Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb MP has revealed that doctors working in hospitals earned almost £15m last year in so called 'ash cash' payments made by grieving families. The payment is made to doctors to sign a form releasing a body for cremation. In West Hertfordshire alone, families paid out £148,218 in 2008/9 alone to get their loved ones' deceased bodies released for cremation.

Norman Lamb commented: "This is a long established practice but you really can't justify taking money off grieving relatives when this involves nothing beyond most doctors normal working hours. People are at their most vulnerable after the death of a loved one and the last thing they need is these extra charges.

Sandy Walkington said "The NHS is meant to care for people from the cradle to grave - but clearly not when it comes to cremation. I confess this came as a total surprise to me. It is a relic of past times and the Government should take action to put an end to this unjustifiable practice as soon as possible."