- Oxfordshire four-year-old needs walking aid due to cerebral palsy
- But health worker remove his frame after finding out he was moving north
- Mother Danielle feared the episode would knock his confidence
- NHS apologises and insists it is retraining staff after the blunder
20:33 EST, 29 March 2014
|
08:37 EST, 30 March 2014
NHS staff took away a four-year-old disabled boy’s walking frame after hearing he and his family were moving house.
Oliver McConnell, who suffers from cerebral palsy, was left unable to get around after the health worker confiscated the frame.
Plucky Oliver is learning to walk after a pioneering operation in the US, paid for by community fundraisers.
Cerebral palsy sufferer Oliver McConnell, pictured with his mother Danielle and brother Josh, left, had his walking frame seized by an NHS worker
But the walking frame was taken by an Oxford Health Trust worker who arrived at the McConnell’s home in Ambrosden, Oxfordshire, after hearing they planned to move to County Durham.
Oliver’s mother, Danielle, said: ‘He had just started getting on his feet and the NHS just came and took his walking frame because we’re moving.
‘It (the frame) was something so minor – how many crutches go missing? But for days I was thinking how is he going to get about or get to school.’
Yesterday, however, the trust did an about-turn, and returned the walking aid.
An Oxford health spokesman said: ‘This should not have happened and we sincerely apologise to this family.
‘A suitable frame has been delivered and they can retain it for as long as they need it. We will issue fresh guidance to staff to try to prevent this happening again.
‘Staff have contacted the family to apologise in person and we wish them well with their move.’
Helped by a JustGiving page, Oliver¿s family raised thousands to take him for a pioneering operation in the USA two years ago
The family launched an appeal, Help Oliver Walk, in April 2012, to raise money for the life-changing operation.
Friends organised events including auctions, cake sales, sponsored runs and walks and a skydive.
Since his operation he has gone from strength to strength and the frame helps him walk around.
His mother had feared Oliver’s progress and confidence would have been knocked if he did not have a frame.
So concerned were the family that Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer colleagues of her soldier husband Barry, a Staff Sergeant at Bicester Garrison, were planning to make Oliver a temporary frame.
Oliver still has fortnightly physiotherapy and uses the frame to help him walk.
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The comments below have been moderated in advance.
COME THE REVOLUTION,
Leicestershire, United Kingdom,
10 hours ago
Credit to someone at the NHS for having the common sense to correct this nonsense and apologise rather than waffle and bluster about procedures. Good luck to young Oliver.
vintage,
San Mateo, United States,
10 hours ago
Staff retrained? With the current glut of available workers, it seems that those with ordinary common sense should be the ones hired.
Duped,
Utopia, France,
10 hours ago
“His mother had feared Oliver’s progress and confidence would have been knocked if he did not have a frameâ€.
I’m sure it would……………I think I would buy one…………….and not make such a drama out of it.
George,
Stockport,
10 hours ago
The lack of common sense applied by the NHS is just staggering sometimes. At least he’s got it back!
JSP,
LONDON, United Kingdom,
10 hours ago
Typical jobsworth ! How much does a walking frame cost and to take it away from a child just when he needs it badly ( after the op) is beyond ridiculous ! There are areas in the NHS that give away equipment freely and don’t even want them back – too much work to catalogue or record returns ! Eg- crutches, boots,
MancMartin,
Manchester, United Kingdom,
10 hours ago
The idiot who took this frame should be named shamed. They are clearly not fit for purpose.
someone,
somewhere, United Kingdom,
10 hours ago
Retraining, the new discipline.
Jamboree78,
Southampton,
11 hours ago
I bet if someone had wanted a breast implant however because it was interfering with their self esteem they would have been treated like royalty. This lot doesn’t need ‘retraining.’ They need sacking as lacking basic compassion and common sense to work in the NHS
Susie,
Cheshire, United Kingdom,
11 hours ago
Another Jobsworth it seems. Lovely little boy, good luck to him and his fight to progress.
Ukipvoter,
Mighty Boro, United Kingdom,
11 hours ago
Pathetic!
Does the care worker have a single brain cell?
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