“How can this be happening in this day and age?” – SCI survivor calls for gender equity in healthcare

After a humiliating incident at her local NHS trust, Dani Czernuszka-Watts, joined forces with the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) to campaign for gender equity in healthcare.

Dani Czernuszka-Watts sustained a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) following a reckless tackle by a rugby opponent and as a result is paralysed from the waist down. But as a determined young woman she has since climbed Snowden and completed the London Marathon not once, but twice. Currently she is part of the Great Britain ice hockey squad. 

So, when she had to go to West Berkshire Hospital, Dani didn’t think she would face any problems. However, the initial questions by staff caught her off guard, with them unnecessarily humiliating in nature.

Dani was then directed to get her scan at a mobile unit outside, with no warning that access may be an issue. She was immediately aware of the stairs up to the unit, but quite rightly assumed there would be some form of disabled access so that she could get her scan. 

She was told by the staff she needed to climb the stairs to have a scan. Resourceful as ever, Dani said she was unable to walk up the stairs, but could go up using her bum, but the staff refused. There was a lift, but the staff said it was to be used in ‘emergencies’ only. 

The staff told Dani she would need to be able to walk into the scanner for it to be undertaken and as she couldn’t do this, they had cancelled the scan.

Distressed, Dani turned to social media: “How can this be happening in this day and age?”

Thinking about all her achievements past and present, she added: “How can I do all these amazing things and yet not go for a simple MRI scan?”

Since then, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust have apologised for any inconvenience and disruption caused saying: “Teams at West Berkshire Community Hospital will typically consult patients in advance to let them know details of appointments and understand any accessibility requirements but failed to do so in this case. We will be taking learnings from this incident to make sure this doesn’t happen again in the future.”

Dani was aware many more people with mobility problems, including SCI, were encountering similar difficulties. To help raise awareness of these issues that disabled people face when trying to access health care, Dani has become a member of a task force set up by the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) who are campaigning for change.

A spokesperson for SIA said: “Dani’s experience is not an isolated incident. 75 years since the NHS was established, 28 years since the Disability Discrimination Act, which then got replaced by the Equality Act of 2010, which pulled together all other protected characteristics and yet, we still hear these stories on a day-to-day basis, whether it is to do with disability, gender, race, religion, or anything else.

The fact that nothing substantive has been done, when many of the changes will not even cost a lot of money, if any, is beyond frustrating.”

In particular, the SIA hears about problems women face. They say: “Some disabled women, with spinal cord injuries and other similar conditions who are in wheelchairs, are not able to access diagnostic tests or other gynaecological advice, across the country.

“It’s a postcode lottery, depending on where you live or which healthcare facility you are using, and many are left with no option but to not attend vital mammogram or cervical smear test appointments.

“Some healthcare staff are even telling those with substantial needs not to attend due to problems with access. It is truly unacceptable such disparities and health inequalities even exist.”

SIA are campaigning to bring change and equity in women’s healthcare, and as a first step are putting together a task force convening service users, like Dani, providers and senior decision-makers, in Parliament, the NHS and other relevant organisations.

If you have experienced problems getting access to healthcare and would like to get involved, or are interested in supporting the campaign, then email [email protected]