Latest News for Parents & Carers

The NHS is at crisis point. For many disabled people, trips to A&E or GPs can be quite regular, but the current hospital delays and lack of staff are impacting their overall health and have made them scared. Laura Miller, 50, is no stranger to hospitals, but she’s never seen anything like this winter. “I witnessed and experienced such severe conditions I feared for my life,” the 50-year-old wheelchair-user told BBC Access All. After her last hospital visit, she sought counselling for PTSD.

The parents of a severely disabled teenager want the government to increase funding for adults forced to quit their jobs to care for children. Callie Aspley, 15, from Warwickshire, needs round-the-clock care for a condition related to dwarfism. Her father has had to leave his job because they are struggling to find carers and their home energy costs to power vital equipment have soared.

The parents of an “amazing” Derby boy have said they feel like someone has ‘stamped on their heart’ after their “angel” son sadly passed away last week. Taylor-James Tranter’s dad, Rolls-Royce worker Stuart Tranter, had to rush his son to hospital in his car on December 19 after his wife, Vikki, noticed TJ had blue lips and was struggling to breathe.

Disability Rights UK is concerned that some new changes which are coming to train stations that could catch-out travellers using smart systems and ticket vending machines inappropriately may coincidently cause unnecessary worry for Disabled and older passengers, particularly for those who are neurodivergent, or have learning disabilities or sight impairments.

The rollout of eye care and glasses dispensing in all special schools in England embodies NHS ideals. In this blog, Lisa Donaldson, our Head of Eye Care and Vision, appeals to NHS leaders to embrace this programme of work and introduces a series of guest blogs on the benefits already seen under the NHS Special Schools Eye Care Service, as the future of the Service from Spring 2023 is uncertain.