Improving wheelchair provision for disabled children and young people
Whizz-Kidz addresses Prime Minister and Health Secretary in Downing Street NHS forum
Today, following a request from the Prime Minister and the Health Secretary, Whizz-Kidz Chief Executive Ruth Owen shared with other voluntary sector leaders the work of the charity – and its collaboration with the NHS – to improve wheelchair provision for disabled children and young people.
The Downing Street forum was part of a programme of activities by the Health Secretary and the Prime Minister to listen to the concerns of patient representatives, clinicians, health experts and third sector leaders about planned NHS reforms.
Prior to this morning’s meeting, the Health Secretary singled out Whizz-Kidz as an exemplary example of delivering improved services in collaboration with the NHS, stating; “There are many fantastic examples of the innovative services the voluntary sector are delivering, including improved wheelchair services provided by Whizz-Kidz for children in Tower Hamlets.”
Ruth Owen said following the meeting:
“At Whizz-Kidz we know that the equipment we provide can have a massive impact on a child’s development, their confidence, their experience of school life and their life chances generally. It was a privilege to be able to convey the compelling and economic case for wider reform of NHS wheelchair services for disabled children to the Prime Minister this morning.”
Two recent Frontier Economics reports have shown that Whizz-Kidz has been able to help its NHS partners to make saving of 60% on wheelchair provision; and generate benefits between £10 and £65 through every £1 spent on Whizz-Kidz services for disabled children.
To read the full findings of the Frontier Economics Whizz-Kidz report, download the PDF version.
Written April 13th, 2011. Posted in News
