Children’s Activity Prosthetic Fund

In early 2016 the then Chancellor George Osborne made an announcement that £1,500,000 would be released for children’s activity prosthetic devices, for both upper and lower limb differences. Since then the fund has been extended until March 2020.

Can my child apply now? It took sometime to reach a point where NHS Limb Centres could apply. The Department of Health is managing the fund and has asked LimbPower to help with the administration.  We are delighted to be part of this exciting trial fund and we are available to health professionals and families to help with any administrative queries.

The fund is now available and can be applied to through your NHS Centre. Contact your NHS Limb Centre and your prosthetist will be available to advise you on the suitability of your child for the fund, the correct prosthetic device for your child and the steps for application, which they will make to the Department of Health.

How long will this trial fund run for?  The Trial Children’s Activity Prosthesis Fund ran for 18 months. The fund has now been extended until March 2020.

Initially £750,000 was released to provide children who have suffered limb loss or were born with a limb deficiency an activity prosthetic device, to enable them to engage in physical activity.

The remaining £750,000 was used in research and development which was managed by Starworks. Find out more about Starworks.

The current Children’s Activity Prosthetic Fund released £1,500,000 to be used between March 2018 and March 2020 to issue children under 18 with activity prosthesis.

Eligibility criteria: Funding will be provided if the following criteria are met:

• The child or young person is under the age of 18 when assessed for their prosthesis

• The child or young person has suffered limb loss or congenital limb deficiency. The prostheses can be for any limb (or limbs if the child has multiple limb loss or deficiency). Upper and lower limb components can be included

• In the opinion of the clinicians in the NHS Limb Centre, the child or young person is fit to engage in physical activity

• In the opinion of the NHS Limb Centre, the child or young person will benefit from the prosthesis, and from engaging in physical activity. Please note that the physical activity might include P.E., sports or games at school, recreation, playing with friends, organised sporting activity etc.

• In the opinion of the NHS Limb Centre, the prosthesis is appropriate for the child or young person and the activity for which it is intended.  The NHS Limb Centre – rather than the young child or young person and their family – must be responsible for determining the appropriate prosthesis.

• The NHS Limb Centre is confident that there is a need for the prosthesis and that it will be used for more specialised activities (e.g. canoeing, rock climbing for example).

Making a claim: NHS Limb Centres in England may request funds from the Department of Health for individual children’s activity prostheses they have prescribed, up to the value of £5,000 (per limb not per child), including all the associated costs of fitting the new limb, such as a new socket or line. This is a limited fund and is available between November 2016 and March 2018.

Claims may only be made which meet eligibility criteria above.

Anything of greater value, an application must be made to the advisory group for approval. Applications to the panel should meet the criteria and the application form is designed to secure evidence to ensure this is the case. 

Payments will be made within 30 days to the NHS Limb Centre.

Seeking advice: If you are unsure about the eligibility criteria, the process for making an application, or you would like to speak with a clinician with experience of fitting a children’s prosthesis please contact Carly Bauert at LimbPower who will be able to assist.

Carly Bauert, Children’s Prosthetic Coordinator, LimbPower, Whitecroft, Tandbridge Lane, Lingfield, Surrey RH7 6LL Email: carly@limbpower.com Tel: 07789 075709