A final appeal for claims for financial aid for long-term care of old or disabled people has been launched by the NHS. Anyone who believes they or a relative were entitled to NHS money for this type of care between 1996 and April 2004 and who has not previously made a claim should contact Eastern and Coastal Kent Primary Care Trust before 30th November 2007.

This appeal has come about following a review by the health service ombudsman in 2003 which investigated cases where people may have been wrongly denied support.

Long-term care is defined as something which people need over an extended amount of time as result of disability, accident or illness, both physical and mental. It can be provided in a hospital, nursing or residential care home or in people's own homes.

For more information go to www.southeastcoast.nhs.uk/news/eligibility