Local MP Demands More Help for Disabled Children

11.51.23am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 7th Apr 2008

Better access to wheelchairs and mobility equipment for kids in Stockport should be top priority for the local PCT, claims local MP, Andrew Stunell.

Mr Stunell has joined with children's mobility charity Whizz-Kidz to improve wheelchair services for disabled children and young people, writing to Stockport Primary Care Trust to ask for information on the provision of disabled services.

"There could be as many as 350 disabled children in my constituency that are in need of mobility equipment. It is disturbing that many of them have had to wait over a year before they are given the tools they need to improve their lives" said Mr Stunell.

"Mobility equipment, such as lightweight and powered wheelchairs, helps disabled children lead full and independent lives, but this is often not provided due to problems with gaining access to appropriate equipment and delays in delivery. I have written to the local PCT to find out what is being done to fix this problem."

The campaign comes in the wake of the Government's Aiming High for Disabled Children report (2007), which promised to allocate more resources for age-appropriate wheelchair access through the NHS.

"It is clear that the NHS is not doing enough. I congratulate Whizz-Kidz for launching this campaign, and hope that together we can give disabled children in Stockport access to the wheelchairs that are theirs by right, and will allow them to lead full and active childhoods."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Andrew Stunell MP has signed the following Early Day Motion (No. 176):

That this House recognises the importance of enabling all disabled children to move around independently and to enjoy the freedom to live full and active lives with families and friends; notes that there are over 70,000 children who require vital mobility equipment which meets their clinical, social and developmental needs; is concerned that many children are forced to wait over a year or are simply unable to access appropriate mobility equipment and as a result risk developmental delay; further notes that, in the long term, independent mobility enables young people to develop the skills and confidence they need to play a full role in society and become tax-paying citizens; applauds the work of the national charity Whizz-Kidz as the leading provider of paediatric wheelchairs and mobility equipment outside the NHS; and supports its work in raising awareness of the needs of disabled children across the UK, promoting independent mobility to enable those children to experience the everyday things that many able-bodied children take for granted.

2. Andrew has also written to Stockport PCT to ask for information on the levels of funding that will go towards appropriate wheelchair provision in 2008-2009, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011, as well as any improvement plans for services involving young people.

3. The NHS operating framework for 2008-2009 establishes disabled children as a priority group for PCTs. This is supported by the 'Vital Signs' indicator set, which includes National Indicator 54 on services for disabled children as a priority for local action.

4. Whizz-Kidz has changed the lives of over 7,500 disabled children since 1990. The charity supports young people to access the right mobility equipment, including powered wheelchairs and lightweight wheelchairs, at the right time. Whizz-Kidz also delivers wheelchair skills training and other life-skills training to help support the transition from childhood to adulthood. To find out more please visit: www.whixx-kidz.org.uk.

5. The current reforms of the NHS wheelchair services is taking place through the Department of Health's 'Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services' Programme.