Hull woman turns to crowdfunding for new wheelchair

A young woman from Hull, who suffers from a rare genetic condition, has told Viking she's having to crowdfund for a new wheelchair - because the NHS won't fund it.

Shona Cobb suffers from Marfan Syndrome, and has a large cyst sitting at the bottom of her spine that means simply sitting upright causes her considerable pain.

Shona is looking to get a new powerchair that tilts and reclines, giving her the ability to lie down that is the only thing that relieves her pain. However, requests to the NHS to fund the £12,000 powerchair Shona needs have been refused.

Shona's told Viking that the criteria for NHS Wheelchair Services is very strict:

"I didn't even have an assessment. They just sent me a letter to say I wasn't eligible for help. I spent about three or four months trying to appeal it - trying to get them to understand how much I needed a new powerchair and how I'd probably struggle to raise all of the money myself, but it didn't make a difference.

"I found out that the biggest reason they couldn't help me is because I can walk on crutches, five or ten metres, around my home.

"Also, through speaking to some staff, I found out just how basic the equipment is that they supply, and how they don't meet people's needs."

Shona has already raised more than £2,000 in just under two weeks, and hopes that at the halfway point, she'll be able to order the chair that will help her get out and about much more.

Patience Young, Clinical Commissioning Lead for Equipment and Wheelchairs said:

“NHS Hull CCG commissions a wheelchair service which undertakes assessments and provides wheelchairs on both short and long term loan. Every individual wheelchair assessment takes into consideration all the service user’s needs including their physical needs as well as lifestyle and social aspects. Following the assessment an individual care plan is agreed in partnership with the wheelchair user, which reflects their identified health and wellbeing needs.”

“The CCG isn’t able to give comment on any individual cases, however we are working with NHS England to develop a new Personal Wheelchair Budget scheme which will replace the current voucher scheme and will give people who use NHS wheelchair services greater choice and control. Anyone who has questions about the wheelchair service is welcome to call our Patient Relations Team on 01482 335409. ”

You can donate on Shona's GoFundMe page here.