Whizz-Kidz' Campaign to
Fast Forward Reform of
NHS Wheelchair Provision
for Children
Whizz-Kidz are calling on the government 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 government has made a commitment to reform NHS wheelchair services on many occasions. Following the 2010 General Election, we would like to urge the new government to Fast Forward improvements to NHS wheelchair provision for disabled children.
Support the campaign
The Kidz Board and all the other young wheelchair users in the country need your help! We want 70,000 people to sign the petition – one signature for every disabled child or young person waiting for the right wheelchair. The more people that sign the petition, the more likely the Government will be to realise how many people care about this issue.
You can sign the petition here, and then invite your friends to sign it:
http://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/fastforward/fastforward-petition/
If you want to get more involved and make even more of an impact, why not become a Campaign Champion? Whizz-Kidz will provide all the help you need to tell your local press, school and other organisations about the Fast Forward campaign: -
http://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/fastforward/fastforward-champion/
For more information about the campaign, see the campaign factsheet:
http://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/fastforward/fastforward-campaign/factsheet/
Campaign Factsheet
Having the right wheelchair
- 70,000 kids in the UK need a wheelchair that will give them independent mobility
- The right wheelchair can make a huge difference to a disabled child's life. With the right equipment, children can go where they want, when they want. They can choose who they speak to. And they can storm off when they are in a sulk!
- Being in the wrong wheelchair can cause serious problems. It can cause medical issues such as back injuries and loss of mobility. It can also have a negative effect on a child's self esteem and confidence, and ability to integrate with friends
- Families face waiting times of months and even years for the right wheelchair, and many are simply unable to access the wheelchair that meets their child's needs
- Children have virtually no chance of getting a powered wheelchair on the NHS, while recreational equipment such as adapted bikes and trikes are not provided at all
Cost of raising a disabled child
- 26% of families with a disabled child in the household live in poverty, compared with 20% of households with no disabled children
- 84% of families with a disabled child are in debt compared to 47% of households with no disabled child
- It costs on average three times as much to raise a disabled child as a non-disabled child.
Young disabled people and work
- Disabled young people are over twice as likely as non-disabled young people not to be in education, employment or training
- 80% of the young disabled people who responded to Whizz-Kidz's school consultation said that they have not taken part in a school-organised work experience placement
About the work of Whizz-Kidz
- In 2009, Whizz-Kidz provided close to 1,000 children with mobility equipment
- Next to the NHS as a whole, Whizz-Kidz is the biggest provider of mobility equipment to disabled children in the UK
To go to the campaign homepage: -