‘Letting down our wheelchair users is wasting public cash’

Thursday 5th February 2009, 2:29PM GMT.

HEALTH is failing wheelchair users, according to the Guernsey Disability Alliance.

Spokeswoman Shelaine Green (pictured) said the occupational therapy team’s report into wheelchair provision had clearly shown that islanders were being let down.

‘Guernsey is lagging behind and failing its disabled people in the process, as the report identifies,’ she said.

Members of the alliance had been disappointed to learn that provision of a proper wheelchair service had been delayed further.

‘This is not a “nice to have at some point in the future” service. It is vital to the health and independence of the 1,000-plus wheelchair users in Guernsey,’ she said.

The delays were costing thousands of pounds and holding back people who would benefit, she said.