Report Finds Children With Disabilities In The UK Do Not Have Access To Vital Specialized Equipment

Dec 03, 2019

A staggering number of more than 300,000 children living with disabilities in the UK are being kept from receiving equipment that would assist them, according to Newlife, a charity representing disabled children.

Newlife says that 50 percent of local councils are preventing specialist car seats for children, a drop from 83 percent since they started campaigning last year. These specialized seats are required to keep children who have musculoskeletal disorders, seizure disorders, or a compromised airway, safe.

According to THIIS, the findings come a year after Newlife first released a report stating that councils have stopped providing the specialized equipment due to a policy giving them the authority to do so. The policy says they can deny certain types of kits "under any circumstance."

The specialized equipment also includes other assistive devices such as walking frames, specialized buggies, arm supports, and high-sided safety beds, according to Newlife. The charity has donated equipment to more than 1,200 families facing a crisis in the past year alone. The value exceeds 1,100,000 euros.

The charity issued a report exposing, what they say, are unlawful failings in providing the specialized equipment to the UK's most vulnerable children. They are asking the government and individual service providers to work with Newlife to help the children whose lives are at risk because they don't have the necessary equipment.

The CEO of Newlife, Sheila Brown, who also has two disabled children, explained that severely disabled and terminally ill children are being denied their fundamental rights due to existing policies. These policies are based on frugality as opposed to health and necessity. Sheila says that this is resulting in children being left to suffer in pain. She also states that their safety is being compromised.

The Newlife Campaigning and Public Affairs Manager, Clare Dangerfield, said the situation is simply not acceptable. She explained the councils are using their blanket ban policies to push the costs back to parents.

She gave an example that a basic car seat cost around 100 euros while the specialized seat required by disabled and terminally ill children can cost up to 35 times that amount. She explained that denying parents the required equipment drives some families into poverty. The charity identified that a majority of the councils in England were refusing to provide specialist car seats.

The story sheds a sad light on those children suffering from disabilities. Hopefully, this information will become available to reach as many people as possible.