A DOCTOR who treats the homeless has taken aim at the Government after one of his patients was told his disability benefits would be stopped on Christmas Eve.

Dr Tim Worthley, who works for Arch Healthcare in the Morley Street Surgery, said he felt a “gut punch” after being told by the patient that his Personal Independence Payment (PIP) would be stopped one day before Christmas.

The distinguished and respected central Brighton doctor said the man was “very poorly”, suffered with “profound anxiety and paranoia” and tried to kill himself following the news.

In a Facebook tirade against the Conservative government, he said: “He will sometimes still sleep on the streets for fear of the horrors hiding in his bedsit but has achieved some stability for the first time in years.

“He received a letter on Monday following a PIP assessment to tell him that he isn’t actually mentally unwell.

“Which was news to him and certainly to me”.

Dr Worthley, along with other doctors at the surgery, have been praised by council officers for successes in treating homeless people in the city.

Stopped

Speaking about his patient, who has not been named, he said: “His PIP will be stopped on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve.

“He tried to killed himself after receiving the letter.

“He has no idea how he will manage. Neither do I.

“I did what I could, which was little.

“I offered support, care and my deepest apologies for what this country has come to.

“I told him I would stand by him, and asked him to stay alive long enough to give us a chance to right this wrong.

“Our country, at the behest of the Conservative party, has become a mean-spirited, cruel country and it breaks my heart.”

PIP is a benefit that helps with the extra costs of living with a health condition or disability.

It is the successor to the Disability Living Allowance.

When the changeover happened more than 650,000 people across the UK on disability benefits had payments cut of stopped.

That is according to official Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures.

To receive it, applicants will need to fill in a “how your disability affects you” form and hand it into the DWP.

A health professional will either invite the applicant to a meeting or ask their social care worker. Those invited to a meeting will be asked questions about their ability to carry out activities and how it affects their daily life.

If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, you can contact the Samaritans at 116 123 or jo@samaritans.org; or see their website, www.samaritans.org.