A delegation, led by a University of Limerick lecturer, met with the junior minister with special responsibility for disability issues seeking a national review of wheelchair and seating provision services.
Dr Rosie Gowran, along with wheelchair users Eileen Daly, David Griffith, Dr Margaret Kennedy, Ann Kennedy and Sean Byrnes as well as parent Fiona Byrnes, met with Minister Finian McGrath at Leinster House on Thursday. “This is a human rights issue,” Dr Gowran stated.
“We are calling on the Government to commission a national review of wheelchair and seating provision services to ensure that sustainable infrastructures are built. People need to be able to access appropriate wheelchair services so they can engage in life with equality of opportunity in school, at work, at home and in the community like any other citizen. The time to address this issue is well over due,” she said.
Research conducted by Dr Gowran, funded by the Health Research Board was highlighted in the Picture of Health 2013 as “a model to address more efficient provision of wheelchair services in Ireland”.
“Having the right wheelchair so you can actually live your life is a civil rights issue, a human right, a justice and equality issue. If you ever need a wheelchair the stark reality of getting the right wheelchair, maintaining it and ensuring that it continues to meet your needs is unwieldy and invisible to the general public. A wheelchair is not only a vehicle to allow you to go from a to b, it is freedom, empowerment, opportunity and independence,” Dr Gowran said.
The UL Occupational Therapy lecturer highlighted discomfort, poor posture, pressure sores and chest infections as health implications for wheelchair users of having to wait for assessment. “I’m angry that we as a society and the Government cannot see the impact that inappropriate, ad-hoc wheelchair provision services have on life”.
“Enough is enough, one in 100 people is Ireland are wheelchair users, spanning all ages and all walks of life. As citizens we should be outraged to think that growing children are waiting squashed in their wheelchairs which can affect their overall development, young people with spinal cord injury who want to get back to education, employment and enjoyment and people living in nursing homes want be comfortable and maintain their independence for as long as possible. It is all our responsibility to address this human rights issue, ensuring that appropriate, timely, seamless and safe wheelchair services are available to all. I would like to know that if I ever needed a wheelchair that I could get what I needed, wouldn’t you?” Dr Gowran stated.
At the meeting the group called on the Government to commission a national review of wheelchair and seating provision to ensure equality of access in all areas of the country, sufficient and efficient assessment and delivery processes, appropriate and regulated review, repair and emergency services, education and training for all involved with services and research which addresses health and well being at all ages.