Cerebral palsy sufferer, 8, left 'heartbroken' after NHS withdraws offer to fund surgery that would allow him to walk …

Joseph Hill has spastic diplegia, cerebral palsy that affects the legs He is totally dependent upon a wheelchair and a walking frame He was told he could have a Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy procedure, which involves cutting the nerves in his spine that cause tightness in his legs But his family were then sent a letter saying that due to an 'NHS shake-up', his surgery had been cancelled His family now has to raise 20,000 in six months to pay for the operation

By Emma Innes

PUBLISHED: 09:09 EST, 5 August 2013 | UPDATED: 09:09 EST, 5 August 2013

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An eight-year-old boy who was told he could have life-changing surgery to allow him to finally play football with his friends, has had the opportunity snatched away because of an NHS shake-up.

Joseph Hill suffers from spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy which affects his lower limbs and means he has to rely on a wheelchair.

But he was given hope after being offered pioneering surgery - called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy - on the NHS.

Joesph Hill, eight (pictured with his mother Angela), was told that he could have pioneering surgery on the NHS to allow him to walk. He then received a letter from NHS England saying the operation had been cancelled

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Cerebral palsy sufferer, 8, left 'heartbroken' after NHS withdraws offer to fund surgery that would allow him to walk ...