Subscribe to Whizz-Kidz News‘NHS-charity partnership provides disabled children with better wheelchairs at lower cost and shorter waits’ says new report
Leading economic firm, Frontier Economics Limited, today launched a report showing how mobility charity Whizz-Kidz has pioneered a model for working in partnership with the NHS – delivering better wheelchairs, faster, and reducing costs by 60%.
Download a copy of the report: Frontier Economics: Impact of Whizz Kidz PCT Support (opens as a PDF).
The report also highlights that if NICE cost criteria were applied to the area of wheelchair provision, the improved quality of life for disabled children and young people would more than justify the cost of meeting the “unmet need”.
It is estimated that there are up to 70,000 disabled children and young people in the UK that do not have wheelchairs appropriate to their needs. In 2007, Whizz-Kidz trialed a collaborative approach with the NHS, partnering with NHS Tower Hamlets to improve the provision of wheelchairs for disabled children in the borough.
This model went on to win the Dignity in Care Award at the Health and Social Care Awards in 2008. Since then the charity has begun to deliver NHS wheelchair services for children and young people in Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Brentwood, Bexley and Southend.
Whizz-Kidz has transformed these NHS wheelchair services for children by introducing leaner processes, reforming the supply chain, centralising administration and following the best in private sector procurement practice to get best value for money on equipment.
Matthew Bell from Frontier Economics said of the report:
“In a time when all public services are expected to do more for less, this report highlights Whizz-Kidz’ work with NHS wheelchair services as a perfect case study of how resources can be better focused on the frontline.”
Ruth Owen, CEO, Whizz-Kidz added:
“Our work with the NHS sets the standard for wheelchair services and shows that children and young people shouldn’t have to put up with long waits or struggle with inappropriate equipment. Frontier Economics’ report proves that the NHS can give children the equipment they need and they can do it better, cheaper and faster with Whizz-Kidz.”
For more information about Whizz-Kidz, please visit www.whizz-kidz.org.uk
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For further information please contact Rob Dyson, PR Manager on 020 7798 6103 or r.dyson@whizz-kidz.org.uk.
Notes to Editors
- Despite several government reviews highlighting the issue, many NHS wheelchair services continue to operate long waiting lists and families are often forced to go to charities to get the right wheelchair for their child.
- NICE, based on wide expert and public consultation, has developed a cost-based test for when spending by the NHS can be justified. The cost of wheelchair provision through the schemes developed by Whizz-Kidz in collaboration with PCTs passes that test.”
- Whizz-Kidz has changed the lives of nearly 11,000 disabled children since 1990 – often literally overnight. The charity supports young people to access the right mobility equipment – including powered wheelchairs – at the right time; and delivers wheelchair skills-training, work placements, and other life-skills to help their transition from childhood to adulthood.
- Frontier Economics Limited is an employee-owned, independent specialist in the use of economics to make better decisions. They work across public policy, strategy, regulation and competition issues. Visit: www.frontier-economics.com
- NICE is the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. It is an independent public body responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health and preventing and treating ill health. Visit: www.nice.org.uk
- There are still over 70,000 children in the UK who need our support. Find out more and help move a life forward visit: www.whizz-kidz.org.uk
- The right wheelchair and mobility equipment is not automatically provided on the NHS, and it is virtually impossible for a disabled young person to get a powered wheelchair.
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