One in five terminally ill people in Wales are dying in fuel poverty, according to a report.

The report, Dying in Poverty in Wales 2024, by leading end-of-life charity Marie Curie, reveals that 17 per cent of all those who died in Wales in 2023 were living in poverty.

Blaenau Gwent had the largest proportion of working-age and pension-age people dying in poverty in Wales.

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The report shows that people who die before reaching retirement age are at a much higher risk of dying in poverty than pensioners, at 30 per cent compared to 17 per cent.

The report also highlights the "double impact" of lost income and rising costs, particularly energy bills, that people with terminal illnesses often face.

The charity's senior policy manager, Natasha Davies, said: "Too many people in Wales are dying in poverty.

"Whichever way you cut it, terminally ill people are at greater risk of poverty, a situation that remains unchanged since 2019.

"This simply isn’t good enough.

"No one should have to face their final days worrying about money or whether they can afford to heat their home."

Marie Curie is now urging the Welsh Government to include terminally ill people in the new Council Tax Reduction Scheme and provide additional financial support to help with energy costs.

The charity is also asking the UK Government to introduce a social tariff to cut energy bills for people at the end of life.

Dr Esyllt Llwyd, a GP based in Caernarfon, said: "Patients are already navigating a difficult time when they receive a terminal diagnosis, and to see people also struggle with finances during that time is devastating."

Since December 2022, Marie Curie has had dedicated Energy Support Officers working on its Support Line and has provided fuel poverty training for more than 1,000 Marie Curie staff and volunteers.