'Helping my daughter have a normal life'

Beth Moulam suffered cerebral palsy at birth

Children suffering from cerebral palsy are not getting the vital equipment they need to live normal lives because of government delays.

Scope, the charity for people with cerebral palsy, said too often requests for equipment are subjected to lengthy delays because the various government departments do not work together.

BBC News Online spoke to one mother about her battles to give her seven-year-old daughter a normal life.

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Beth Moulam suffered cerebral palsy after problems at birth.

She finds it difficult to walk, dress and eat by herself.

But despite her profound disabilities the seven-year-old from Epsom, in Surrey is determined to live as normal a life as possible.

With help from a full-time carer she is able to go to a mainstream primary school where she has many friends.

Whilst the voice computer she has got works it is quite slow and gives her some problems at school

Liz Moulam

Her mother Liz told BBC News Online that life for her daughter would be made much easier if she was given better equipment, without the lengthy delays and departmental red tape.

"She is a happy smiley child and all the children at her school have a lot of time for her."

18-month delay

But Mrs Moulam said that if Beth was given a more up-to-date communications aide she would be able to speak more easily with her friends.

"Whilst the voice computer she has got works, it is quite slow and gives her some problems at school."

But she currently faces an 18 month delay to get the voice aid.

Mrs Moulam said: "She has problems with sudden movements and problems with her balance and co-ordination and she has difficulty balancing on her own.

"She can walk two or three steps on her own, but she needs to walk with the help of a walking frame."

But despite her mobility problems Beth is not entitled to an electric wheelchair.

The policy of her local social services department is that the electric chairs are not available for children under 12 as they feel that children under this age will not be venturing out unaccompanied.

And even if Beth does manage to get the electric chair she wants she will not be allowed it unless she also gets an electric chair for use indoors despite the fact that she can use her walking frame indoors.

Her mother feels that better unity between the government departments will make life easier for children like Beth.