My dad is dying from heart failure and his only hope of survival is an LVAD device.

He was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in 2012 and until the last month or so medication has been keeping him alive and relatively well. It is now evident that the drugs are no longer working and his body is filling with fluid, so much so, that it is now a struggle to eat.

Time is now of the essence and he desperately requires an LVAD to be fitted. This is a left ventricular assist device which is a mechanical pump that is implanted inside a person's chest to help a weakened heart pump blood.

We learned yesterday (8/9/17) that Dad is not eligible for this surgery on the NHS due to current government criteria.

Dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005 and had immediate surgery. Unfortunately, a year later dad was given the news that malignant cells had escaped the prostate and he had to undergo a course of radiotherapy. His PSA levels were then stable until they began to increase a couple of years ago, and earlier this year he received some hormone treatment. His PSA levels are now at an all time low; scans have revealed that the cancer has not spread to his bones. Dad has been very well for the whole of the 12 years that he has been managing the cancer and he has led a normal and healthy life. However, it is this cancer that makes him ineligible for further heart treatment and it is his heart that will take his life and not the cancer.

As a family we are devastated and heartbroken. Dad has worked hard all his life to provide for his family and, at the age of 65, when he should be enjoying his life and his grandchildren, he is preparing himself for his premature death.

He was discharged from hospital yesterday (8/9/17) with palliative care provided by my mum and the community nursing team. It was my Dad's wish that he came home and, as a family, we needed to fulfil that wish for him.

We feel the current system is unfair and unjust; we are in the process of writing to our local MP to express our disappointment and frustration.

We would be truly grateful for any donation, no matter how small. In the event of Dad's death we will donate any funds raised into future research for this awful genetic disease.