Cerebral palsy champion calls for end to care gap

Published On Tue 13 Jun 2017 by Dominic Younger

A University of Dundee PhD student has called upon the Scottish Government to develop and provide funding for a clinical pathway and services for adults with cerebral palsy (CP).

Rachael Wallace from Alyth, who has suffered from the condition since birth, has petitioned the Scottish Parliament to improve the care for adults with CP. She is also calling for patients to contact her with their own experiences.

Rachael, 26, who is studying for her PhD in Disability and Employment Law, said, “Cerebral palsy affects 15,000 people in Scotland, so it is not a local health board issue but a national issue. I have started my own public petition to speak up for those who can’t.

“Unlike Parkinson’s, MS and Epilepsy, there is no clinical pathway for cerebral palsy. Adults with CP are unable to access high-quality services that are safe and put the patient at the centre of their care.

“As CP is not regarded as a progressive condition many patients over the age of 18 are left to self-manage their own condition, despite being severely disabled. To make sure our petition is heard, I encourage anyone with cerebral palsy or a relative of someone with the condition to come forward with their experiences so that the Scottish Government can see what we face on a daily basis.”

Anyone with personal experiences of CP is encouraged to get in touch with Rachael by emailing: r.z.wallace@dundee.ac.uk

For media enquiries contact:
Dominic Glasgow
Media Relations Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
Tel: +44 (0)1382 385131
Email: d.w.glasgow@dundee.ac.uk