DISABLED CHILDREN AND HEALTH

That this House welcomes the new report, Disabled Children and Health, produced by the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign, with the support of the Children's Trust, Tadworth; recognises the commitment made to children's health through the Healthy lives, brighter futures strategy; notes that this strategy confirms that primary care trusts in England have £340 million in their 2008-09 budgets for services for disabled children, including short breaks, community equipment, wheelchairs and palliative care, for which £30 million is earmarked specifically for children's palliative care; further notes with concern the evidence in Disabled Children and Health that disabled children have unequal access to health services and that there is confusion amongst primary care trusts regarding what is expected of them in relation to health services for disabled children and how to identify this specific funding locally; acknowledges the impact of missing out on health services on the child and families' ability to lead an ordinary life; and calls on the Department of Health, primary care trusts, local authorities and the health, social care and education inspectorates to respond positively to the recommendations in the Every Disabled Child Matters report in order to provide disabled children with health services that meet their needs.