PARALYMPIAN legend Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson swapped her wheelchair for a wheelbarrow to draw attention to the poor wheelchair services in England – and to launch a new Wheelchair Charter.
Baroness Grey-Thompson, who led a new group of disabled campaigners in Parliament Square, said: “For too long wheelchair services have been inadequate and it is time that wheelchair users are listened to and provided a proper service, rather than being marginalised.
“The huge variation in quality of services across the UK is astounding, and means a huge proportion of wheelchair users are left immobilised, frustrated and ignored.”
The Wheelchair Leadership Alliance, chaired by Baroness Grey-Thompson, brought together MPs and clinical commissioning groups, and other healthcare professionals to highlight the issues facing wheelchair users in getting the right chair at the right time and to launch the charter.
Baroness Grey-Thompson said: “We want to get this issue on the radar of people who can influence change and also get them behind the campaign by urging them to pledge their support to the Charter.”
Wheelchair facts
- There are around 1.2 million wheelchair users in England, about 2% of the UK population
- Research by Muscular Dystrophy UK found that wheelchair users often face severe delays to receive their chair:
- 70% wait more than three months
- 30% face a delay of more than six months
- 15% wait more than 12 months
PICTURED: Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, right, with Dr Jean Waters, left, and Fiona Carey from the Wheelchair Leadership Alliance. Photo: David Parry/PA Wire
