Petition calling for Falklands boys operation in Shropshire is handed in

The family of a six-year-old boy who has been denied life-changing treatment in Shropshire has handed in a petition of more than 2,600 signatures calling for the NHS to change its mind.

Kailand Ford's grandmother Margaret Armstrong, left, presents the petition to Christina Richardson, head of specialised commissioning, and David Sharp, director of NHS Leicester and Lincoln Area Team

Kailand Ford, who was born with quadriplegic cerebral palsy, was due to travel to Oswestry from the Falklands at the end of April for an operation which would have allowed him to live a normal life.

But just days before the planned trip his family was told the funding for his treatment had been withdrawn.

Thousands of people have signed an online petition asking NHS England to reverse their decision and allow Kailand to have the selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery.

His grandmother Margaret Armstrong, who lives in the UK, has now handed in the petition of 2,655 signatures to NHS Fosse House Leicester, where she presented it to David Sharp, director of NHS Leicester & Lincoln Area Team, and Christina Richardson, head of specialised commissioning.

She said: "They were welcoming and listened to what we had to say, however they explained that NHS England had withdrawn funding the selective dorsal rhizotomy surgery in all NHS trusts.

"Certain hospitals would be able to become centres of excellence. Those hospitals that meet the NHS England standards could make applications to the Independent Funding Review team who would then have to decide if that specific case met their criteria. If their case did so then funding would be granted.

"In the case of our grandson we await the outcome. If Oswestry Hospital meets NHS Englands standards of excellence, and we have every confidence it will, then Mr Roberts the orthopaedic surgeon and his excellent team will I feel sure be making an application to the IFR team.

"In the meantime all the signatures have been submitted and are being put towards the Orthopaedic hospital's statements of witnesses, so hopefully will help."

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Petition calling for Falklands boys operation in Shropshire is handed in