This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64258115
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Spinal injuries: Paralysed motorcyclist learns to walk again | Spinal injuries: Paralysed motorcyclist learns to walk again |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| Harold, his wife Sybil, and clinical specialist Sam Miggins who he calls "a life saver" | Harold, his wife Sybil, and clinical specialist Sam Miggins who he calls "a life saver" |
| A motorcyclist paralysed in a crash and told he would never walk again has taken his first steps with robotic legs originally developed for US soldiers. | A motorcyclist paralysed in a crash and told he would never walk again has taken his first steps with robotic legs originally developed for US soldiers. |
| But Harold Price, 79, is paying £800 a month to be treated privately after being denied help on the NHS. | But Harold Price, 79, is paying £800 a month to be treated privately after being denied help on the NHS. |
| His story is "very common" because physiotherapy services have been "left behind", a rehabilitation expert has said. | His story is "very common" because physiotherapy services have been "left behind", a rehabilitation expert has said. |
| A health board said patients were free to choose non-NHS therapies. | A health board said patients were free to choose non-NHS therapies. |
| TV presenter Matthew Bassett shows life goes on | TV presenter Matthew Bassett shows life goes on |
| Mum sees son walk for first time | Mum sees son walk for first time |
| It was on 11 June 2021 that Harold's life changed forever when he broke his neck in a crash 12 miles (19km) from his home in Griffithstown, Torfaen. | It was on 11 June 2021 that Harold's life changed forever when he broke his neck in a crash 12 miles (19km) from his home in Griffithstown, Torfaen. |
| Recalling the fateful day, the retired fitter said: "I was going to go cycling and my [motorcycling] mate rang me up. | Recalling the fateful day, the retired fitter said: "I was going to go cycling and my [motorcycling] mate rang me up. |
| "But for five minutes and this wouldn't have happened." | "But for five minutes and this wouldn't have happened." |
| Harold was a keen cyclist, riding 90 miles (145km) a week | Harold was a keen cyclist, riding 90 miles (145km) a week |
| After bumping into the back of his friend's bike at about 15mph (24km/h), Harold came off his 500cc Honda Rebel, and was rushed to Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales. | After bumping into the back of his friend's bike at about 15mph (24km/h), Harold came off his 500cc Honda Rebel, and was rushed to Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales. |
| Despite undergoing emergency spinal surgery, his hands and legs were left paralysed. | Despite undergoing emergency spinal surgery, his hands and legs were left paralysed. |
| "They thought I wouldn't walk again," he said. | "They thought I wouldn't walk again," he said. |
| "I was really devastated. I thought 'I have got to get on my feet'." | "I was really devastated. I thought 'I have got to get on my feet'." |
| Harold taking his first steps since his accident with the help of wearable robotic legs, a treatment being trialled at a private clinic in Newport | Harold taking his first steps since his accident with the help of wearable robotic legs, a treatment being trialled at a private clinic in Newport |
| Rehabilitation from a spinal injury often involves many hours of physiotherapy. | Rehabilitation from a spinal injury often involves many hours of physiotherapy. |
| But Harold's clinical status - not able to walk again - disqualified him for physiotherapy on the NHS. | But Harold's clinical status - not able to walk again - disqualified him for physiotherapy on the NHS. |
| So he sat at home trying to teach himself to walk using a homemade device. | So he sat at home trying to teach himself to walk using a homemade device. |
| It led to a couple of falls and a lot of worry for Harold's wife. | It led to a couple of falls and a lot of worry for Harold's wife. |
| Before starting physiotherapy at a private clinic, Harold tried to walk again with help from a friend, but had a couple of falls | Before starting physiotherapy at a private clinic, Harold tried to walk again with help from a friend, but had a couple of falls |
| "I turned my back and he was on the floor," remembered Sybil, 77. | "I turned my back and he was on the floor," remembered Sybil, 77. |
| "There didn't seem to be much hope. | "There didn't seem to be much hope. |
| "But having lived with Harold for 50-odd years, I knew he wasn't going to give up and he kept saying in the meetings, 'I'm going to walk'." | "But having lived with Harold for 50-odd years, I knew he wasn't going to give up and he kept saying in the meetings, 'I'm going to walk'." |
| Sybil remembered being "very frustrated" because Harold was making progress even without physiotherapy, but his local GP was sticking with the original prognosis. | Sybil remembered being "very frustrated" because Harold was making progress even without physiotherapy, but his local GP was sticking with the original prognosis. |
| "They sent me a letter saying 'we can't do anything', they said 'he's not going to walk'," she said. | "They sent me a letter saying 'we can't do anything', they said 'he's not going to walk'," she said. |
| "There was nowhere to go, so we had to decide then we're either going to listen to them and Hal will sit in a wheelchair, or we are going to pay ourselves." | "There was nowhere to go, so we had to decide then we're either going to listen to them and Hal will sit in a wheelchair, or we are going to pay ourselves." |
| She found a private clinic specialising in spinal injury rehabilitation in Langstone, Newport. | She found a private clinic specialising in spinal injury rehabilitation in Langstone, Newport. |
| "When they said on the national health he couldn't have any more physio, I found this place," Sybil said from the Morrello Clinic where Harold does an hour-long session twice a week. | "When they said on the national health he couldn't have any more physio, I found this place," Sybil said from the Morrello Clinic where Harold does an hour-long session twice a week. |
| "We really haven't looked back since." | "We really haven't looked back since." |
| Harold recently took his first steps since the accident using a walking frame with clinical specialist Sam Miggins crawling along the floor beside him "placing" his feet. | Harold recently took his first steps since the accident using a walking frame with clinical specialist Sam Miggins crawling along the floor beside him "placing" his feet. |
| He called Ms Miggins his "life saver". | He called Ms Miggins his "life saver". |
| Robotic legs allow Harold to walk with a cane as he gets private treatment with clinical specialist Sam Miggins | Robotic legs allow Harold to walk with a cane as he gets private treatment with clinical specialist Sam Miggins |
| The progress has come after Harold's determination during sessions at the Morrello Clinic meant he was selected for a trial with wearable robotic legs. | The progress has come after Harold's determination during sessions at the Morrello Clinic meant he was selected for a trial with wearable robotic legs. |
| Keeogo was developed by Canadian company to increase the strength and endurance of US soldiers. | Keeogo was developed by Canadian company to increase the strength and endurance of US soldiers. |
| "The technology can help to pick up your feet," said Morrello's clinical director Jakko Brouwers, explaining how sensors in the robotic legs respond to the patient's movements. | "The technology can help to pick up your feet," said Morrello's clinical director Jakko Brouwers, explaining how sensors in the robotic legs respond to the patient's movements. |
| It means Harold can walk from one end of the clinic to the other, getting the repetitions needed to learn to walk again. | It means Harold can walk from one end of the clinic to the other, getting the repetitions needed to learn to walk again. |
| "If you can only get fifty steps in a day that's fifty opportunities to learn," Mr Brouwers explained. | "If you can only get fifty steps in a day that's fifty opportunities to learn," Mr Brouwers explained. |
| "With wearable robotics we can increase the amount of repetition." | "With wearable robotics we can increase the amount of repetition." |
| Sessions with the robotic legs have also helped his mental health, making him think he has got "a bit of a chance" to walk again. | Sessions with the robotic legs have also helped his mental health, making him think he has got "a bit of a chance" to walk again. |
| Harold has been determined to walk again ever since his accident | Harold has been determined to walk again ever since his accident |
| But it comes at a financial cost. | But it comes at a financial cost. |
| Harold pools his £350 monthly disability allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions with £450 of his own money to pay for eight hours of physiotherapy a month. | Harold pools his £350 monthly disability allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions with £450 of his own money to pay for eight hours of physiotherapy a month. |
| "We're not rich, but we can afford to prioritise the money that we've got for Harold," said Sybil. | "We're not rich, but we can afford to prioritise the money that we've got for Harold," said Sybil. |
| Mr Brouwers said the NHS has to prioritise acute services over rehabilitation, adding: "There isn't really the emphasis on buying technology to enhance the rehabilitation experience that people are getting." | Mr Brouwers said the NHS has to prioritise acute services over rehabilitation, adding: "There isn't really the emphasis on buying technology to enhance the rehabilitation experience that people are getting." |
| Mr Brouwers said Harold could be further along in his rehabilitation if there had been access on the NHS | Mr Brouwers said Harold could be further along in his rehabilitation if there had been access on the NHS |
| "People should not be paying so much for access to equipment," he added. | "People should not be paying so much for access to equipment," he added. |
| Mr Brouwers sees a "common thread" of people who deteriorate physically and mentally when they are sent home from hospital. | Mr Brouwers sees a "common thread" of people who deteriorate physically and mentally when they are sent home from hospital. |
| "It is very important to keep the positive mindset after catastrophic injury and the outlook is bleak," he said. | "It is very important to keep the positive mindset after catastrophic injury and the outlook is bleak," he said. |
| Harold is shy about going out in public in a wheelchair, with wife Sybil saying he sometimes struggles to accept he has a disability | Harold is shy about going out in public in a wheelchair, with wife Sybil saying he sometimes struggles to accept he has a disability |
| Professor Diane Playford, a consultant in neurology and in rehabilitation medicine at University of Warwick, said it is "very common" to find patients in Harold's situation. | Professor Diane Playford, a consultant in neurology and in rehabilitation medicine at University of Warwick, said it is "very common" to find patients in Harold's situation. |
| "Unfortunately, although the acute services have been developed, the rehabilitation services haven't and they've been left behind," she said. | "Unfortunately, although the acute services have been developed, the rehabilitation services haven't and they've been left behind," she said. |
| But better rehabilitation would ultimately mean less pressure on acute services, Prof Playford added. | But better rehabilitation would ultimately mean less pressure on acute services, Prof Playford added. |
| A spokesperson for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: "Most patients who are admitted to our specialist spinal rehabilitation centre at University Hospital Llandough are in the first phase of their rehabilitation journey. | A spokesperson for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board said: "Most patients who are admitted to our specialist spinal rehabilitation centre at University Hospital Llandough are in the first phase of their rehabilitation journey. |
| "All outcomes and prognosis are made following individualised specialist multi-disciplinary assessments and patient outcomes vary, depending on level and complexity of spinal injury. | "All outcomes and prognosis are made following individualised specialist multi-disciplinary assessments and patient outcomes vary, depending on level and complexity of spinal injury. |
| "We do not place a time scale on progress or limits on rehabilitation. | "We do not place a time scale on progress or limits on rehabilitation. |
| "On discharge, rehabilitation continues within the community and local health boards and professionals undertake further assessments regarding the therapy input required to support ongoing rehabilitation. | "On discharge, rehabilitation continues within the community and local health boards and professionals undertake further assessments regarding the therapy input required to support ongoing rehabilitation. |
| "All patients have the right to decide what is the best action for them, and this may be through non-NHS services." | "All patients have the right to decide what is the best action for them, and this may be through non-NHS services." |
| A Welsh government spokesperson said: "We recognise the importance rehabilitation can have on a person's recovery which is why we are providing health boards with an additional £1.4m per year for community-based multi professional rehabilitation support workers, as well as £5m annually to fund more allied health professionals, which include physiotherapists, to provide rehabilitation services and support people to recover." | A Welsh government spokesperson said: "We recognise the importance rehabilitation can have on a person's recovery which is why we are providing health boards with an additional £1.4m per year for community-based multi professional rehabilitation support workers, as well as £5m annually to fund more allied health professionals, which include physiotherapists, to provide rehabilitation services and support people to recover." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Wales | |
| Griffithstown | Griffithstown |
| Welsh government | Welsh government |
| Newport | Newport |
| NHS Wales | NHS Wales |
| Back injury | Back injury |
| Langstone | Langstone |