Wheelchair user: "They are a necessity, not a luxury"

When I was ten I was bedbound for eight months owing to delays in receiving an appropriate chair. Thirteen years on I'm still hearing of people who are having the same problems. I have a muscle-wasting condition and need proper support for my spine. It is just not possible to get a specialised wheelchair that is suitable for me on the NHS - the basic wheelchairs leave you feeling uncomfortable and in constant pain.

Last year I was lucky enough to receive a specialised chair which cost £19,500 - fully funded by charity money. There is no way I would be able to afford this out of my own pocket - the chair is four times more expensive than my sister's first car. The NHS cannot continue to keep quiet on the topic of funding these wheelchairs. They are a necessity, not a luxury.