{"id":192918,"date":"2017-08-05T18:52:16","date_gmt":"2017-08-05T18:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/nhs-investigation-reveals-service-is-rationing-wheelchairs\/"},"modified":"2017-08-05T18:52:16","modified_gmt":"2017-08-05T18:52:16","slug":"nhs-investigation-reveals-service-is-rationing-wheelchairs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/nhs-investigation-reveals-service-is-rationing-wheelchairs\/","title":{"rendered":"NHS investigation reveals service is rationing wheelchairs"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"mol-bullets-with-font\">\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Some trusts are turning down as many as two thirds of adults and children<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"\"><strong>Many are having to wait more than four and a half months for them to arrive<\/strong><\/li>\n<li class=\"\"><strong>More than 6,600 adults and children had to wait longer than the target 18 weeks\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"author-section byline-plain\">By<\/p>\n<p>Sophie Borland Health Editor For The Daily Mail<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"byline-section\"><span class=\"article-timestamp article-timestamp-published\"><br \/>\n  <span class=\"article-timestamp-label\">Published:<\/span><br \/>\n  09:03 EDT, 2 August 2017<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n | <span class=\"article-timestamp article-timestamp-updated\"><br \/>\n  <span class=\"article-timestamp-label\">Updated:<\/span><br \/>\n  09:20 EDT, 3 August 2017<br \/>\n<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"share-facebook\"><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-twitter\"><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-pinterest\"><\/li>\n<li class=\"share-gplus\">\n      <span class=\"g-interactivepost\"><br \/>\n        <a><\/a><br \/>\n      <\/span>\n        <\/li>\n<li class=\"share-email\">\n<p>                <span class=\"wai\">e-mail<\/span><br \/>\n            <\/a>\n        <\/li>\n<li class=\"share-icons\" id=\"shareLinkTop\">\n            <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>     <span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"count-number\">          46<\/p>\n<p class=\"count-text\">View <br \/> comments<\/p>\n<p>    <\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The NHS <\/a>is refusing to supply wheelchairs for tens of thousands of vulnerable patients, an investigation has found.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Some health trusts are turning down as many as two thirds of adults and children referred by GPs for wheelchair services.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">And many of those deemed eligible for wheelchairs are having to wait more than four and a half months for them to arrive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">More than 6,600 adults and children had to wait longer than the target 18 weeks in the last three months alone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The investigation by Buzzfeed News<\/a> exposes the extent to which cost-cutting NHS trusts are looking for new ways to save cash.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Many are already denying patients hip and knee replacements and cataract surgery unless they meet strict eligibility rules.<\/p>\n<p>        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-34e56b04428a54e5\" src=\"image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" height=\"425\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Some health trusts are turning down as many as two thirds of adults and children referred by GPs for wheelchair services\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/><\/p>\n<p>    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" id=\"i-34e56b04428a54e5\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/08\/02\/13\/42E74B7D00000578-0-image-a-39_1501678669928.jpg\" height=\"425\" width=\"634\" alt=\"Some health trusts are turning down as many as two thirds of adults and children referred by GPs for wheelchair services\" class=\"blkBorder img-share\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"imageCaption\">Some health trusts are turning down as many as two thirds of adults and children referred by GPs for wheelchair services<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Charities say there has been a surge in patients &#8216;crowdfunding&#8217; their wheelchairs and appealing to members of the public for donations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold health-ccox mol-style-medium\">How many referrals were there?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Previously unpublished figures from NHS England show that 55,433 adults and children were referred to wheelchair services by GPs between January and March 2017.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But almost a fifth \u201310,391 patients -were turned down because they did not meet the strict eligibility criteria set by their Clinical Commissioning Group, the local health trust.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">And in Bracknell and Ascot CG, in Berkshire, 67.7 per cent of patients were refused wheelchair services.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"rotator-panels link-bogr1 linkro-ccox\">\n<li>\n<p>  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/08\/02\/13\/42E7334500000578-0-image-a-33_1501677359198.jpg\" width=\"62\" height=\"60\" \/><span>Warning on passive vaping in bars: Second-hand smoke from&#8230;<\/span><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/08\/02\/12\/42E6C54300000578-0-image-a-25_1501674722732.jpg\" width=\"62\" height=\"60\" \/><span>Patients living in the same postcode may have to wait 5&#8230;<\/span><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/08\/02\/12\/42E6F21A00000578-0-image-m-14_1501674127238.jpg\" width=\"62\" height=\"60\" \/><span>Does SPINACH cause Alzheimer&#8217;s? Iron-rich vegetable may lead&#8230;<\/span><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<p>  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/08\/02\/09\/42E5117D00000578-0-image-a-5_1501664332110.jpg\" width=\"62\" height=\"60\" \/><span>Throats are &#8216;silent reservoirs&#8217; for gonorrhoea: Scientist&#8230;<\/span><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">North West Surrey turned down 67.6 per cent per cent of patients and Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead rejected 66.7 per cent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">At the other end of the scale however 28 out of 209 CCGs said they provided wheelchair services for all patients referred by their GPs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">These figures only cover a three month period so the total numbers of patients denied wheelchairs in a year will run into the tens of thousands,<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Most had been referred for brand new wheelchairs although some wanted repairs or adaptations to older chairs.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"mol-factbox-title\">RATIONING HIP AND CATARACT SURGERY<\/h3>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Patients are having to plead with the NHS for hip replacements, cataract surgery and other routine treatments that were once provided without question, an investigation has found.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">There has been a surge in the number of special requests made by doctors on patients\u2019 behalf for procedures to be funded.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">In total, some 73,900 requests were made in 2016\/17. Out of these, half were rejected as they were not deemed cost effective or beneficial.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The total number of requests has increased by 20 per cent in the past year and by almost 50 per cent compared to four years ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Many were for treatments that were previously routinely available on the NHS, such as hip and knee replacements, cataract surgery, and procedures to repair damaged nerves or varicose veins.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Those patients whose requests are turned down must decide whether to put up with their pain or pay up to \u00a310,000 to go private.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">A basic wheelchair costs around \u00a3140 but the lighter, more comfortable chairs which are much easier to use cost around \u00a32,000.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold health-ccox mol-style-medium\">&#8216;Shocking&#8217; differences\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Celia Thomas, Liberal Democrat peer and disability spokesman said: &#8216;The difference in wheelchair provision by CCGs across the country is shocking.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;It means that disabled people are in a postcode lottery as to whether they can get a suitable wheelchair or not. This has been a problem for far too long and it is high time the government sorted it out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, former Paralympian and cross-bench peer, who set up the National Wheelchair Alliance to improve services said: &#8216;The cost of not getting the right wheelchair is significant. It could keep a young person out of school or someone out of work.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;A pressure sore (from a badly-fitting wheelchair) costs tens of thousands to fix.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold health-ccox mol-style-medium\">Essential aids\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">Nic Bungay, of Muscular Dystrophy UK, which represents many wheelchair users said: &#8216;Wheelchairs are not luxuries \u2013 they are essential for disabled people to move safely both in and out of the house, get to work and education, and to live their lives as independently as possible.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;The right wheelchair can help someone to stay healthy and well, while the wrong wheelchair can result in unnecessary discomfort and pain.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;The NHS&#8217;s longstanding failure to provide suitable wheelchairs is landing many people with five-figure bills, forcing them to either fundraise for it themselves, rely on charities like ourselves, or spend their already limited savings.&#8217;<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\"><span class=\"mol-style-bold health-ccox mol-style-medium\">Just a handful of CCGs meet the target\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">The NHS is meant to ensure that all patients referred by their GP receive their wheelchair or repair within 18 weeks.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">But the investigation found that just 4 per cent of CCGs are currently meeting this target.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">An NHS England spokesman said: &#8216;Local GP-led commissioning groups are ultimately responsible for securing and funding wheelchair services for people locally.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"mol-para-with-font\">&#8216;However, NHS England is working with the National Wheelchair Leadership Alliance to develop best-practice standards as well as introducing personal wheelchair budgets to give people more choice on the best wheelchair for them.&#8217;\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>            <!-- ad: http:\/\/mads.dailymail.co.uk\/v2\/us\/health\/none\/article\/other\/inread_player.html --><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"social-links-title\">Share or comment on this article<\/h3>\n<ul class=\"bigLinks sc-icns cleared\">\n<li class=\"share-facebook\">\n<p>                                    <span class=\"wai\">e-mail<\/span><br \/>\n                                <\/a>\n                            <\/li>\n<li class=\"share-icons\" id=\"shareLinkBottom\">\n<p>                                <\/a>\n                            <\/li>\n<li class=\"social-stats social-stats-pipe\" id=\"shareCountBottom\">\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul class=\"rotator-panels\">\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/08\/04\/21\/42F2344B00000578-0-image-m-23_1501880335841.jpg\" alt=\"Josie and Des Gallagher say wearing the badges breaches their rights and they have resigned from volunteering at Felbrigg Hall\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">Mutiny at the National Trust: Dozens of volunteers quit&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/08\/05\/01\/42F3F83200000578-0-image-m-18_1501891632968.jpg\" alt=\"The unique trinket made by the Queen's jeweller Garrard  Co, which is about three inches tall and weighs 323.6 grams, was sold in its original presentation box\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">Cracking! 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Back-biting. Accusations of lies. These have been the background to the Battle for Brexit 2017. 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Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who studied at Oxford\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">Britain educates more world leaders than anyone else with&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/08\/04\/22\/42EE364800000578-0-image-m-26_1501880516812.jpg\" alt=\"Victims: Cliff Bradley and his wife Paris\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" \/><span class=\"wocc bdrcc\">Couple catch cleaner stealing jewellery from their&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<li class=\"new shallow-ac mini link-bogr6 linkro-wocc\">  <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/i.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/pix\/2017\/08\/05\/10\/42FAF6FB00000578-0-image-m-28_1501923876084.jpg\" alt=\"Colin Flett (left and right after the attack), 52, bought a blue Reebok bike from a man he had never met before in Camden, north London at 11.30pm on July 7\" width=\"154\" height=\"115\" 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&#8216;Lucifer&#8217;&#8230;<\/span> <\/a> <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/f.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/furniture\/comments\/articles\/btn_add-your-comment.png\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/f.dailymail.co.uk\/i\/furniture\/comments\/articles\/icon_comments_74.png\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Comments <span class=\"readerCommentsCount\">46<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>\n\t    Share what you think\n          <\/p>\n<ul id=\"rc-tabs\" class=\"js-links dm-tabs cnr5 cleared\">\n<li class=\"dm-tab dm-tab-on bdrgr5 cnr-bdr wogr5 link-wox js-active\">\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tl\"><\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tr\"><\/span><br \/>\n        Newest<\/a>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"dm-tab bdrgr5 ow-igr2-bx cnr-bdr xogr2 link-gr5ox\">\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tl\"><\/span><br \/>\n        <span class=\"xogr5 tr\"><\/span><br \/>\n        Oldest<\/a>\n      <\/li>\n<li class=\"dm-tab bdrgr5 ow-igr2-bx cnr-bdr xogr2 link-gr5ox\">\n        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For The Daily Mail Published: <a class=\"read-more-link\" href=\"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/nhs-investigation-reveals-service-is-rationing-wheelchairs\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-192918","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192918","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=192918"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/192918\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=192918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=192918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/i\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=192918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}