Cost of living makes life tough, but spare a Thought for really ill youngsters

The UK’s rate of inflation surged to a 40-year high this week and that means more misery for many as prices continue to rise.

This comes at the same time figures show that workers have suffered a record real-term wage slump. These are incredibly tough times.

But for some, the hardship is unthinkable. Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) has launched an appeal to help support families with children with lifeshortening illnesses who’re really facing financial difficulties at the moment. Many parents are forced out of jobs to provide round-the-clock care for these very ill children and are struggling to afford regular hospital transport or are living in food poverty.

As if life isn’t difficult enough, these families

don’t even have the choice to turn the heating off to make savings as the house has to be at a certain temperature. And to keep many of these children alive complicated machines have to be plugged in round the clock, which has huge implications for utility bills.

It is terrifying to think how much harder life is going to get with energy prices set to go up again in just a few months and winter just round the corner. This cry for help issued by CHAS is a stark reminder of the human cost of this crisis.