Campaign for Equal Health Treatment for Disabled Patients

Tracy Lock from Milford Haven has set up a petition with the Welsh Assembly calling for all GP surgeries to have wide, adjustable treatment beds and hoists available for disabled patients.

Tracy was born with Spinabifida in 1970 and she is paralysed from the waist down. In 2017 she was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer.

Tracy said: “I sincerely believe that had I been examined earlier on a wide, adjustable treatment bed, perhaps with the aid of a hoist, then my cancer would have been diagnosed earlier. Since I’ve been looking into this, many other women with disabilities have spoken to me about how they do not have equal access to smear tests because of this issue. Often people think that disabled access is just about lifts and ramps but in health care, it is much more complex. Let’s join together to make access to health care equal for all people.”

Alistair Cameron, Welsh Liberal Democrat Candidate for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, is supporting Tracy’s campaign. He said: “I urge everyone to sign this petition which is on the Welsh Assembly petition website. It is vitally important that people with disabilities have the same access to health care and treatment as everyone else. I am very concerned that people with disabilities might be missing out on vital diagnosis and treatments because GP surgeries do not have wide, adjustable beds and hoists.”

Tom Hughes, Welsh Liberal Democrat Candidate for Preseli Pembrokeshire said: “Equality in health care provision has been at the heart of the NHS since its inception. This change is not a big ask but will make a huge difference for many people in need of that little bit of extra support. We should always be aiming to make healthcare as accessible as possible, and this is a logical and necessary step in the right direction. I’m happy to give this petition my full support.”

See Below for petition details

WELSH ASSEMBLY PETITION DETAILS

 EQUAL ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR THE DISABLED

We call on the Welsh Government to ensure that it is a legal requirement for all GP surgeries to have wide, adjustable treatment beds and hoists available for the use of disabled patients, so that they can be examined whenever there is a need.

I was born with Spinabifida in 1970 and as a survivor of the condition I am paralysed from the waist down and use a wheelchair full time. In 2017 I was diagnosed with stage 4 bladder cancer. It cannot be legally proven but it is my sincere belief that had I been diagnosed earlier in the years before in my GP surgery on a wide, adjustable treatment bed, perhaps with the aid of a hoist, then my cancer would not have been diagnosed at such an advanced stage. Since I’ve been looking into this issue, many disabled women have spoken to me about how they do not have equal access to smear tests because of this issue too. Often people think that disabled access is just about lifts and ramps but in health care, it is so much more complex. Let’s join together to make access to health care equal for all people.

The petition link is here:

https://www.assembly.wales/en/gethome/e-petitions/Pages/petitiondetail.aspx?PetitionID=1630