The ‘race against time’ to replace car crash victim’s arm
A FATHER of three is facing a “race against time” to get a new prosthetic arm approved after losing his right arm in a road accident in 2004. But after being turned down for the treatment by NHS bosses, despite doctors in Leeds making repeated requests for funding for the surgery, it appears his struggles are being echoed across the country.
Former railway worker Adrian Barrass, aged 52 and from Swinton, had his right arm amputated to the shoulder after a road traffic accident in 2004. His left arm was also damaged and he suffered brain damage.
Mr Barrass tried a standard, cosmetic prosthesis but found it painful and unsuitable. His doctors in the Specialist Rehabilitation Services team, based at Seacroft Hospital in Leeds, have proposed that he should be supplied with a prosthetic arm with digital elbow and electric hand, controlled by switches.
Mr Barrass says the need for the arm is getting more urgent, as his left arm – also damaged in the accident – is deteriorating due to overuse.
“I have always been a proud man. I don’t want to be a burden on people and want to be able to do as much for myself as possible,” he says.
“A prosthetic arm would make a massive difference to my life, both physically and mentally.
“It would give me back some of my independence, make me feel less of a burden and give me a better quality of life.
“It would be the little things that would mean the most, like putting both my arms around my children and being able to put my own toothpaste on my toothbrush. I’m scared that soon I won’t have my other arm either.”
Any prosthetics not on the NHS basic equipment list are subject to doctors making an Individual Funding Request (IFR) on behalf of their patients.
But the IFR Panel deciding on his case has said there is “insufficient evidence to support the clinical exceptionality of this patient”. His doctors argue there are thought to be no other patients like him in the UK, perhaps the world because of the nature of his injuries.
Mr Barrass’s case has been taken up by politician John Healey, who is standing to win back his Wentworth and Dearne seat for Labour.
In March, Mr Healey received a Parliamentary response from the Department of Health which showed the number of IFRs being approved by a national panel has fallen considerably.
It showed the number of funding requests being approved by the panel has fallen from around 60 per cent between 2013/14 and 2015/16 to just 36 per cent in 2016/17 – with the number of cases being referred to the panel also dropping substantially.
Mr Healey says: “Mr Barrass just wants the medical help he needs to help him live a life with dignity, but he’s losing out and being forced to suffer because of a technicality.
“Judging by the sharp fall in funding being given out nationally, Mr Barrass is not the only one being knocked back and left without help.
“I’m concerned NHS England does not seem to be able to deal with unusual requests such as that put forward on Mr Barrass’s behalf.”
A spokesperson from NHS England, said: “NHS England is committed to ensuring patients have access to treatments which are proven to be effective.
“Following an Individual Funding Request, patients are assessed to determine whether their particular condition means the treatment already available is unsuitable.
“Patients can receive treatments through the IFR process if it is determined their particular clinical situation means they are so different from others who have the same clinical condition that the usual NHS care is not appropriate for them.”