Disabled woman denied wheelchair over 'criteria'

Josselin Tilly has been offered money towards a manual wheelchair, but is unable to propel herself

A mother said she was "shocked" to be told her severely disabled daughter is not entitled to a new wheelchair, because she does not meet the criteria.

Josselin Tilly, from Westbury in Wiltshire, has Charge Syndrome - a rare genetic condition that affects her organs, leaving her blind, deaf and needing a ventilator at night.

Four years ago Josselin, 19, was given a powered wheelchair through the charity Whizzkids, but her mother Karen says the wheelchair is now beyond repair and has applied for a new one.

Service provider HCRG Care Group said the case had been considered against "national eligibility criteria" and that it had offered the family further guidance.

Ms Tilley was told Josselin's circumstances did not meet the required criteria for an estimated £12,000 powered wheelchair.

Instead, the family say they were offered a voucher worth £2,700 towards a manual wheelchair, which Ms Tilley believes is not suitable for Josselin.

"A manual chair is not what she uses. She's not able to propel it herself. It's heavy for nurses and carers to push," she added.

"She can't take any steps at all on her own. She's completely reliant on her chair."

Ms Tilley has now made a formal complaint to HCRG.

Josselin's mother Karen said that a wheelchair was Jocelyn's "only means of leaving the house"

Ms Tilley added that simply relying on Josselin's current wheelchair is not an option.

"It's significantly damaged. We have a leg plate missing at the front, a joystick broken on the front," she said.

"Not only is there metal sticking out, but it actually doesn't work, because the wires at the side are broken.

"At the back there is damage. It's held together by cable ties."

"I appreciate there are limited funds, but I do feel she should meet the criteria."

In a further response HCRG said that Miss Tilley's complaint was being "managed in line with our complaints procedure" and that if a case falls outside its critera it will be "reviewed holistically to determine if there are clinical grounds for an exception to be made".