Campaigns
Whizz-Kidz campaigns to Fast Forward reform of paediatric wheelchair services
Whizz-Kidz has launched a campaign to Fast Forward reform of NHS wheelchair provision for disabled children and young people. This will ensure that all disabled children in the UK can access the right mobility equipment and ongoing support that they need without undue delay.
An estimated 70,000 children are waiting to receive the mobility equipment that is right for them. This wait often takes months, even years. In the meantime, children are missing out on their childhood as they’re unable to fully participate in family and school life, and keep up with their friends.
The former government has made a commitment to reform NHS wheelchair services on many occasions. We would like to urge the current government to Fast Forward improvements to NHS wheelchair provision for disabled children.
Whizz-Kidz has been working with a number of Primary Care Trusts to improve their paediatric wheelchair services provision. A report by the leading economic consultancy, Frontier Economics, has demonstrated that the pioneering collaboration resulted in financial savings and improvements in quality of life – delivering better wheelchairs faster and reducing costs by 60 percent.
The report further makes the case for reform by highlighting that if NICE cost criteria were applied to the area of wheelchair provision, the improved quality of life for disabled children and young people would more than justify the cost of meeting the "unmet need".
Please join our campaign by signing the online petition and forwarding it to all your contact. We aim to reach 70,000 signatures – one for each child still waiting for the right wheelchair.
Sir Philip Craven MBE, President of the International Paralympic Committee, is one of the many who have already signed the petition. He said: "I am proud to support the Fast Forward campaign. Whether it is playing sports, excelling at school or going out with friends, the independence and confidence the right wheelchair gives children is one of the keys for them reaching their full potential in life and having fun. This is why wheelchair services for children must be reformed so no child is kept waiting. I hope the petition will reach far and wide."
