Disabled people in UK need right to travel abroad, say MPs, after ‘ridiculous’ restrictions
Summary
MPs and disability advocates in the UK have asked the government to ensure disabled people have the right to travel abroad with their personal assistants (PAs). Currently, local health boards and councils have different rules about funding travel costs for PAs, which means some disabled people cannot afford to travel overseas.Key Facts
- Disabled people in the UK face inconsistent rules on using care funding abroad, depending on where they live.
- Local NHS care boards and councils sometimes block the use of care budgets to pay personal assistant travel costs.
- Two men with the same health condition and care needs but living nearby have very different access to funding for overseas travel.
- Joel has been unable to travel overseas with his PAs for eight years due to his local health board’s restrictions.
- David, living nearby, received travel funding and took trips to Europe with his PAs.
- Campaigners say these restrictions violate disabled people’s rights and limit their freedom and opportunities.
- The UK government has been urged to create national rules to protect disabled people’s ability to travel abroad with support.
- The Commons work and pensions select committee chair said these restrictions might breach the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.
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