Six specialised euthanasia teams consisting of one doctor and one nurse will begin making house calls in the Netherlands next month.

Right to Die NL (NVVE) says the teams will visit people who want to end their lives and are eligible for euthanasia under Dutch law, but whose wishes are being thwarted. Such situations can occur when, for instance, doctors refuse to take requests for euthanasia seriously.

The NVVE will open an `end-of-life clinic' in The Hague on 1 March. People not able to have euthanasia administered at home by their family doctors will be able to end their lives at the clinic from around mid-2012.

The NVVE expects to receive about 1,000 euthanasia requests per year. The organisation stresses that people will not be able to opt for euthanasia on impulse: they will have to go through a lengthy intake procedure as required under Dutch law.

This includes a period during which doctors ensure that the decision is voluntary and well-considered, and that the patient's situation is hopeless and unbearable.

In the past, most euthanasia cases have involved cancer patients who have run out of treatment options. The NVVE says people in the early stages of dementia and those suffering from chronic psychiatric problems can also be eligible under present legislation. The organisation says it will, if possible, co-operate with family doctors.