Paralympic hopes ‘threatened by care underfund’

A BRONZE medal-winning Paralympian claims his local council is jeopardising his chance of success at the next Paralympic Games in 2020 by failing to provide him with the financial support he needs.

Paul Davies, of North Cornelly, Bridgend, won bronze playing singles table tennis at the London Paralympics in 2012. He first played table tennis at school and rediscovered the sport aged 30 when he started playing again as part of his rehab following a road traffic accident that left him paralysed.

For three years he played wheelchair rugby until a shoulder injury led to him playing table tennis again at the spinal injuries club in Rookwood Hospital, Cardiff.

After showing great promise, he was selected to play for Wales, later going on to represent Great Britain at international tournaments. In the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, he reached the quarter-finals.

In correspondence between South Wales West AM Caroline Jones and Bridgend council officials, the AM relayed Mr Davies’ concern that while disabled athletes elsewhere in Wales and England were allocated special care packages worth 85 hours and 91 hours to enable them to attend competitions so they could maintain their standards, Mr Davies was allocated 45 hours.

He says he has had to give up the opportunity of going to Slovenia for a tournament because care was not available for him.

Ms Jones said: “The decision by Bridgend Social Services Department to underfund the care of a bronze medallist in the London Paralympics, who had hoped to compete in the Paralympics in Tokyo 2020, is beyond belief.

“Paul Davies contacted us for help to enable him to attend tournaments and retain his status and train hard for 2020. Paul was not afforded the hours of a personal assistant who would need to travel with him to ensure his needs were met.

“In 2016 Paul sadly lost his wife who was his carer and since then has been trying to explain to social services that he must gain credits to enable him to qualify for 2020. We wrote to the department explaining exactly how many hours Paul needed per week to enable him to compete.

“They were also aware of the hours other Paralympians in different areas like Powys and the West Midlands had been allocated to enable them to compete. Paul’s hours were significantly less than other Paralympians which meant his tremendous achievements were ignored and seemingly the additional hours were dependent on a postcode lottery.”

A spokesman for Bridgend council said: “We do not have permission from Mr Davies to disclose specific details of this case, but following an extensive and prolonged assessment process, we believe that we have been able to offer a plan of care and assistance specifically designed to meet his individual needs in collaboration with other agencies offering him support.

“Bridgend County Borough Council makes every effort to accurately assess what someone’s individual care needs may be and how much support is required. We consider all relevant factors to ensure that appropriate support is in place, and that it meets people’s wellbeing needs.

“These factors include looking at what specific level of health or personal care may be required, whether any additional sources of support or funding are involved, what sort of travel arrangements will be necessary, and more.

“We fully support Mr Davies’ aspirations, and wish him every success in representing his country.”