Debts & Loans

Great Ormond Street Hospital is offering a free counselling service for patients struggling with debt problems.

According to the Evening Standard, the children's hospital is the first in the capital to provide such a service, but others are expected to follow its example.

Operated by the Citizens Advice Bureau, the debt advice centre will open at Great Ormond Street's Bloomsbury site this week.

The newspaper notes that "many families are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cash problems, especially in cases of chronic illness".

Great Ormond Street's debt service will aim to support patients whose illness has led to serious issues with debt, as well as their family members.

Last week, a survey from Callcredit identified east London as the most indebted area in the UK.

Families living within the E postal area were found to have the highest debt levels in the country, with London SE and Uxbridge also within the top five in terms of indebted areas.