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My baby Ellie is a victim of the NHS postcode lottery
1:23pm Thursday 7th August 2008
BABBLING away to her big sister, there is nothing to suggest that EllieWheatley is different to any other 11-month-old.
But while everyone else can hear her endless baby chatter Ellie herself cannot, because she is one of the most profoundly deaf children in the country.
A life-changing operation to be fitted with two cochlear implants is her best hope of being able to hear and with it to learn how to speak.
But this week her local health trust ruled that she could only have one, a decision that her family says would be pointless given the severity of her condition.
Mum Christine Wheatley says her daughter, among the five most profoundly deaf children born last year, is the victim of a "postcode lottery" healthcare system.
"Of course I'm bitter and angry," said the 35-year-old, of Pitter Close, Winchester, who herself works in the NHS.
"Ellie will be more likely to get run over by a bus, fail at school or get depressed - and all because of where we live.
"Experts say she needs two implants but the people at Hampshire Primary Care Trust are essentially accountants."
The cost of one implant is £33,000 with a second one costing an additional £18,000.
Ellie's case has now been taken up by Winchester MP Mark Oaten. He said: "I am determined to help Ellie get her cochlear implant. At such a young age this couldmake a real difference."
Hampshire PCT says the decision was made in accordance with guidelines laid down by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), the body that provides national guidance.
A spokesman for the trust, said: "We are also guided by the consultation documents concerning these implants which have been issued by NICE ahead of its new guidance due to be released in September. The current NICE recommendations support unilateral implants for children and adults with severe to profound deafness. However, under these guidelines, bilateral cochlear implantation is restricted to certain conditions, including children and adults who are also blind.
"We will study the updated guidance next month, and review our current position based on the new evidence."
Surgeon Chris Raines, based in Bradford, West Yorkire, has never had an application for bilateral implants turned down by his local PCT. He said: "Some health authorities are absolutely fabulous and some don't even fund adults so there's an element of postcode lottery. What we're hoping is that after the NICE adjudication there will be more winners than losers."
Mrs Wheatley, who contracted cytomegalovirus while she was pregnant with Ellie, which led to the baby's deafness, said she and solicitor husband Ed, 35, would remortgage her house if her appeal against the PCT's decision was unsuccessful.
A NICE spokeswoman said: "Until NICE issues final guidance, individual cases should be assessed at a local level within the NHS. Once NICE issues its guidance on a technology it replaces local recommendations."
Your Say YourEcho
Ciaran, says...
1:55pm Thu 7 Aug 08
This is purely a British matter, and is the fault of no-one but bureaucrats in the UK.
Mike, Soton says...
2:40pm Thu 7 Aug 08
I bet there will still be rationing by the NHS when Cameron is in power. In fact, judging by their previous record there will be more of it under the Tories and they will charge for things that are currently free. Those with long memories may remember free dental checks and eye tests, both of which were ended by the Tories. What price to see your GP in 2010?
caped crusader, nhs lottery nomad says...
3:32pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Mike wrote:if you work out what your giving in taxes i think you'll find the government get more of every pound you earn than you do already....think enoughs enough.you pay your tax/national insurance (still a tax of sorts)then you pay council tax,fuel tax,tax on food,tax on beer,tax on fags,road tax value added tax,tax on savings,tax when selling your house....anymore for anymore !!!!! oh and then to top it off immigrants come over and get better looked after than anyone of us BRITISH in our own damded country,makes me sick to the back teeth,and then the politically correct brigade jump all over people like me for standing up for my right to expect better from my own countrymen/governmen
It is all a matter of how much tax we are prepared to pay. We could have the best health care in the world with every new treatment freely available. However, we could not then complain about the 'high' level of tax. I bet there will still be rationing by the NHS when Cameron is in power. In fact, judging by their previous record there will be more of it under the Tories and they will charge for things that are currently free. Those with long memories may remember free dental checks and eye tests, both of which were ended by the Tories. What price to see your GP in 2010?
t.
end of rant !!!
Words Fail Me, Hants says...
3:53pm Thu 7 Aug 08
caped crusader wrote:Caped Cursade for Prime Minister!!! I second everything you say as I'm a smoker, drinker, car owner, home owner, and employed full time ......
Mike wrote: It is all a matter of how much tax we are prepared to pay. We could have the best health care in the world with every new treatment freely available. However, we could not then complain about the 'high' level of tax. I bet there will still be rationing by the NHS when Cameron is in power. In fact, judging by their previous record there will be more of it under the Tories and they will charge for things that are currently free. Those with long memories may remember free dental checks and eye tests, both of which were ended by the Tories. What price to see your GP in 2010?if you work out what your giving in taxes i think you'll find the government get more of every pound you earn than you do already....think enoughs enough.you pay your tax/national insurance (still a tax of sorts)then you pay council tax,fuel tax,tax on food,tax on beer,tax on fags,road tax value added tax,tax on savings,tax when selling your house....anymore for anymore !!!!! oh and then to top it off immigrants come over and get better looked after than anyone of us BRITISH in our own damded country,makes me sick to the back teeth,and then the politically correct brigade jump all over people like me for standing up for my right to expect better from my own countrymen/governmen t. end of rant !!!
nic, somewhere says...
3:55pm Thu 7 Aug 08
PAUL B, says...
8:36pm Thu 7 Aug 08
caped crusader, nhs lottery nomad says...
11:08pm Thu 7 Aug 08
PAUL B wrote:and thats it is it... spineless.At least i've said what needs to be said,we let everyone dump on us in this country,if the boot was on the other foot do you think these countries would give us the same as they get from us...think not somehow.i'm not racist,but i do believe that we are second class citizens in our own back yard,the Aussies have got it right."live in our country,live by our rules and law's,don't expect religeous favours and pay your own way"
DAILY MAIL READERS
Quite frankly...., Orbiting Planet Idiot says...
11:12pm Thu 7 Aug 08
caped crusader wrote:Whilst nobody would want this little girl to suffer on the account of bean-counters, surely most would also want you to curtail your masturbatory Daily Mail-induced fantasies about Johnny Foreigner.
I really hope this little angel gets the operation she should have (by right of being British). I am sick to death of this country,we are forever looking out for others and foresaking our own.I'm sick of bloody europeans telling us what we can and can't do and even sicker of our weak kneed bloody government who tax us to the hilt and let us down in every way we should benifit.WOULD THIS BE HAPPENING IF THIS LITTLE GIRL WAS AN IMMIGRANT !!!!! NOT ON YOUR LIFE !!!!!
English tax payer, Holbury says...
11:26pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Quite frankly.... wrote:Two very different opinions, one can speak for me anyday, and the other quite frankly what planet are you from you idiot.
caped crusader wrote: I really hope this little angel gets the operation she should have (by right of being British). I am sick to death of this country,we are forever looking out for others and foresaking our own.I'm sick of bloody europeans telling us what we can and can't do and even sicker of our weak kneed bloody government who tax us to the hilt and let us down in every way we should benifit.WOULD THIS BE HAPPENING IF THIS LITTLE GIRL WAS AN IMMIGRANT !!!!! NOT ON YOUR LIFE !!!!!Whilst nobody would want this little girl to suffer on the account of bean-counters, surely most would also want you to curtail your masturbatory Daily Mail-induced fantasies about Johnny Foreigner.
Quite frankly...., Orbiting Planet Idiot says...
11:32pm Thu 7 Aug 08
English tax payer wrote:Hmmm. Holbury. Breathing in all they fumes, you great big 'English tax-payer'. Must be hard typing one-handed.
Quite frankly.... wrote:Two very different opinions, one can speak for me anyday, and the other quite frankly what planet are you from you idiot.caped crusader wrote: I really hope this little angel gets the operation she should have (by right of being British). I am sick to death of this country,we are forever looking out for others and foresaking our own.I'm sick of bloody europeans telling us what we can and can't do and even sicker of our weak kneed bloody government who tax us to the hilt and let us down in every way we should benifit.WOULD THIS BE HAPPENING IF THIS LITTLE GIRL WAS AN IMMIGRANT !!!!! NOT ON YOUR LIFE !!!!!Whilst nobody would want this little girl to suffer on the account of bean-counters, surely most would also want you to curtail your masturbatory Daily Mail-induced fantasies about Johnny Foreigner.
now in the north, bolton, from southampton says...
11:36pm Thu 7 Aug 08
Re Member, Southampton says...
5:43am Fri 8 Aug 08
Amy, Georgia USA says...
1:40pm Sat 9 Aug 08
I look forward to hearing that you succeed. Good luck to Ellie! Read my boys' website at cochlearimplant dot net
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caped crusader, nhs lottery nomad says...
1:37pm Thu 7 Aug 08
I am sick to death of this country,we are forever looking out for others and foresaking our own.I'm sick of bloody europeans telling us what we can and can't do and even sicker of our weak kneed bloody government who tax us to the hilt and let us down in every way we should benifit.WOULD THIS BE HAPPENING IF THIS LITTLE GIRL WAS AN IMMIGRANT !!!!! NOT ON YOUR LIFE !!!!!