Ed Davey – the newly elected leader of the Liberal Democrats – spoke today in the House of Commons
He claimed he has seen “legal advice” that suggests the government “broke international law in how the Coronavirus Act reduced the rights of disabled people”.
Mr Davey, who has a son with a disability and is the patron of the Disability Law Service, referenced research from the Disabled Children’s Partnership.
The research showed three-quarters of families with disabled children had their care stopped during the pandemic.
David Laurence, chief executive of the Disability Law Service:
“In certain circumstances the Coronavirus Act reduces the rights of disabled people to receive care to unacceptably low levels. In doing so, it breaches the United Kingdom’s Treaty Obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.”
Rob Burley, Director of Campaigns, Care and Support at Muscular Dystrophy UK:
“The Covid-19 pandemic has been a stressful time for families living with muscle-wasting conditions and we are hugely concerned to hear that people may not have been given the care they are legally entitled to.
At Muscular Dystrophy UK, we have been contacted many times by people about issues such as being asked back to work by their employers when this would not be safe.
As Covid-19 cases increase and we risk a second wave of the pandemic we urge the government to prioritise lawfully protecting the rights of disabled people.”
Time is precious for people living with muscle-wasting conditions. Every day people lose the ability to walk, the ability to stand, the ability to breathe independently. In some cases, lives are cut short.
We urge the government to provide more detail on what plans it will implement to ensure our community is given the best care possible.”
Boris Johnson responded to Ed Davey’s claims. He said: “I am not aware of that particular allegation about the legal effect of the Coronavirus Act and I would be only too happy to write to him shortly to clarify the matter.”
Mother-of-two Fi Anderson, 31, has multi-minicore myopathy. She hasn’t been able to have a single appointment with any of her five consultants in six months
“Ever since the virus hit I feel like I’ve been forgotten about. I understand that the hospital didn’t want the most vulnerable patients coming in, but nobody at all has contacted me to explain the situation and I’ve had no advice on what to do.
When I rang my clinic they assured me I hadn’t been forgotten about but this is life threatening if people aren’t able to see their consultants. I’ve been given no indication whatsoever for when I will be able to have an appointment.
My health has deteriorated and I want to know why clinics that are essential to keeping people with muscular dystrophy alive aren’t running again yet. If I can’t see my consultant then it’s like letting muscular dystrophy take its course. I’m don’t really know what’s going on because nobody has contacted me – it’s a mess.”