Toddler's life-saving vest to be taken away because NHS doesn't fund vital treatment.

[Bronch1noGO]

I don't often post but I'm always in the background, however after reading this article in The Daily Mirror newspaper I just felt I had to bring it up ... A 3 year old boy who has severe Bronchiectasis has had his life- saving vest taken away, to read it please click the link and I'm sure your reaction will be just like mine. It makes me so mad that money comes into deciding whether a childs health is worth it.

mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/j...

[Hidden]

Im a bit confused over that story about the vest because thats something his parents can do for him...we were taught it in pulmonary rehabilitation and its just a tapping on the chest wall in a specific way which is easy to

people are very generous when it comes to raising money for children and im sure they will raise it in no time

[bradshead in reply to Hidden]

Surely if this little boy has been better since having this vest, then it makes common sense to me , to let him keep it. Surely by weighing up the costs it would be of benefit, it has obviously kept him out of hospital, and has given him and his family a better quality of life. Why let somebody trial something that is obviously beneficial and then take it away. Common Sense goes out of the window when it involves money,

[Offcut in reply to Hidden]

I agree that tapping technique is easily done by the parents.

[katieoxo60]

This article shows that the theory of from the cradle to the grave NHS does not exist. It defies all logic and caring to say a three year old can't have the treatment that works best for them, I would point out that the NHS owes a duty of care to the child irrespective of cost. I would be intrigued to know what cost is involved, as I recall an incidence of no potties on a childrens ward in my local hospital being a cost issue and they cost very little.But maybe cost more to sterilize after use. I accept that the NHS funds are not bottomless or the taxes that support it,but publicity like this gets peoples back up when they see money being wasted in other areas of funding. There is no perfect solution but future health of children should have a high priority in my opinion and lack of treatment could result in future disability costing more money. A case of penny wise pound foolish. But it is very distressing when you or your family are the ones refused treartment.

[Offcut]

If they sacked the useless managers and kept the ones that do their jobs without replacing those gone we would probably have enough money then?

[cofdrop-UK]

Poor little chap. The vest is not widely used in UK but has been for ages in USA. It's not the best technique for everyone, but a shame for this little one as he found it very beneficial. If he has taken part in a trial I would have thought he would be allowed to continue, as sometimes happens with other drugs. It is sometimes used in hospital for cfers but of course, as usual, non cf bronchiectatics don't get a look in.

Here's an interesting link - check out page 9, although some folks may find the various methods of physio interesting anyway.

[cofdrop-UK]

Sorry - here it is cysticfibrosis.org.uk/media...

cx

[FarmerD]

This poor wee lads life must be difficult enough,to deny him this simple and strikes me as being very cost effective vest,is appalling.He can have some of my PIP to help! D.

[Hidden]

its easy to donate...i just have and they have raised over £4000 already

[sassy59]

The NHS Managers could all club together out of the exorbitant wages they get and buy quite a few of these marvellous vests I feel. I am also donating. xxx

[Hidden in reply to sassy59]

yeah your so right and its simple to donate takes only a few minutes i think they will have the amount this weekend by the looks of it x

[sassy59 in reply to Hidden]

I hope they do get the money together this weekend so the poor little chap can carry on benefiting. Bless him. xxxx

[Hidden in reply to sassy59]

ive just looked and they have raised £4.295 so far and i wonder how much that machine actually costs to make !!!

[onamission]

The vest cost £7,000 how much does it cost the NHS for physiotherapy ? the NHS is paying out millions every year on bariatric surgery, they are also paying out millions on time wasters so glad I'm out of it

[Hidden]

oh i agree with you on the money they waste but the physio the little boy needs the parents can do for him easy we were shown it in rehab but as i said in my last message they have raised over £4000 already i saw it not long ago when i donated

[Bronch1noGO in reply to Hidden]

Whilst I agree with you - this is a little 3 year old who has other problems and I'm sure his parents do their bit on physio but the vest is 100% less intrusive and kinder on his poor little lads frail body, us Bronchs do suffer from more mucus build-up than most and the necessary treatment to shift it can be brutal and non-effective, so I say give him his vest and let him enjoy an easier life

[Hidden in reply to Bronch1noGO]

i agree with you thats why i donated to it

[onamission]

Nice make loads of recommendations but we live in the real world and a sad one it is