Council refused to provide special bed forcing young disabled girl to sleep in a dog cage.

A disabled child had to sleep in a dog cage because a council refused to provide a special bed, it has been claimed.

14:19 29 September 2014

10-year-old Sadie Hunt, who suffers from a rare form of epilepsy, had to sleep in a dog cage because a council refused to provide a special bed. Her mum, Effie said she needed to keep her in a dog cage to keep her safe. 

 

Effie said: “The dog pen was basically a metal cage with mesh panels which you link together. It was horrible to see my daughter in a dog cage but we didn’t have any choice.

 

“Social services said they didn’t think it was safe. But what was the alternative?”

 

Sadie was given a customised bed when the family still lived in Northumberland. However, they had to move to Chesser Edinburgh in January where the city council refused to provide the child with a special bed. 

 

Effie added: “Sadie has West syndrome.

 

“She has little understanding of the world. Her frustration at being unable to express herself affects how she behaves. She bangs her head against walls and things.

 

“Sadie doesn’t sleep well and can be awake a lot during the night. She needs a bed where she can’t get out.”

 

Labour MSP Michael McMahon, convener of the cross-party group on disability, said the provision of equipment was “very patchy”.

 

He added: “There is a lack of funding for local authorities and a postcode lottery over the funding available.”