The real needs of thousands of disabled children are invisible to UK statutory providers
From the Front Line : Disabled children's needs are 'invisible' - The real needs of thousands of disabled children are invisible to UK statutory providers.
Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children has exposed a catalogue of failures in the provision of essential equipment for disabled and terminally ill children. The report, published this week, is based on the submissions of more than 4,300 professionals.
'From The Front Line' records responses of professionals who have supported applications to Newlife's Equipment Grant Scheme, which provides pain-relieving beds, wheelchairs, safety seating, communication and therapy aids for children.
Newlife found that 77 per cent of those professionals – including physiotherapists and occupational therapists - had not approached local statutory services first. The charity believes professionals are doing what is best for children and so they do not turn to local services first because they believed there was no point.
Newlife is calling on government, local authorities and health providers to ensure unmet need for equipment is better measured in the future.
