‘Treat Cerebral Palsy as the unique condition it is’- Charity reacts to Scotland’s Long Term Conditions Strategy consultation
People with Cerebral Palsy in Scotland face further disadvantage in accessing support if the condition is included alongside many others in the country’s Long Term Conditions Strategy, a specialist charity has warned.
A recent consultation by the Scottish Government on a new integrated framework for long-term conditions sought feedback from people across the country on how best to support those living with lifelong illnesses and disabilities.
Cerebral Palsy Scotland argues that the needs of people with Cerebral Palsy should not be treated as being similar to a range of other conditions; while there may be similarities, the 12,000 people living with Cerebral Palsy in Scotland already face unique challenges, the charity says.
In Scotland, the condition has never had a specific policy approach – but Cerebral Palsy Scotland fears that if the condition is included with others, this faces making the situation worse.
While in England, there are NICE guidelines and standards around Cerebral Palsy, there is no equivalent in Scotland.
In May, NHS England published a new Commissioning Framework for children and young people with Cerebral Palsy – there is nothing similar in Scotland.
“We are concerned that people with Cerebral Palsy cannot access adequate services, or if they do get to see a health professional, they do not understand the condition, have no knowledge of experience of Cerebral Palsy, and therefore are unable to support the person effectively,” says the charity.
“This population is invisible and too often ignored by policy makers and service providers.
“We are calling for this to be improved, and have little confidence that grouping all long-term conditions together into one policy area will do anything to improve support for people with Cerebral Palsy.”
Law firm Slater and Gordon is a partner of Cerebral Palsy Scotland, and acts for many families across Scotland whose lives have been impacted by the condition.
“The needs of individuals living with Cerebral Palsy and their families are unique, and rather than including Cerebral Palsy with many other conditions within the Long Term Conditions Strategy, consideration really must be given to looking at it individually,” says Derek Couper, head of clinical negligence at Slater and Gordon in Scotland.
“We would echo the calls of Cerebral Palsy Scotland that the Government does not include Cerebral Palsy among many other conditions – families already struggle to access the bespoke support they need from the NHS, and this could make things even worse for people who already feel unsupported by the healthcare system.”
