If we refer to any definition of disability then we come across a word, "impair." But the health rights given to the disabled citizens of UK nullify the meaning as well as the whole definition of disability.
In UK, disabled people can share general rights as other people do to access health and social care. The Disability Discrimination Act was passed to offer important rights for the accession to health services such as surgeries, hospitals and mobile screening units. If you ever feel that you have been discriminated because of your disability then The Disability Rights Commission is a good source for you.
For disabled citizens, except for a few charges, National Health Service treatment is for free. National Health Service has divided disabled people in following categories, to attain maximum benefit of their below mentioned facilities.
- Free NHS Prescriptions
- Free NHS Dental Treatment
- Free NHS Sight Tests
- Vouchers For Glasses or Contact lenses
- Free NHS Wigs and Fabric Supports
- Help For Travel Cost
Following are the categories under which disabled citizens can have above-mentioned facilities:
Group 1Age or medical condition or War Disablement Pension can entitle you to some of the above facilities.
Group 2You are entitled to all the facilities if you or your spouse gets:
Working Tax Credit with Child Tax Credit - Working Tax Credit with a disability element
- Child Tax Credit and are not eligible for Working Tax Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
If you don't fall in either of the group and have a low income, then you can claim for the health expense under the NHS Low Income Scheme.
If you have been disabled or injured in a war, then you can claim for War Disablement Pension. You can claim if you were in:
- Ulster Defence Regiment (now known as the Royal Irish Regiment)
- Home Guard
- Nursing and Auxiliary Services
If you were injured or disabled serving as a Civil Defence Volunteer, as a part of Naval Auxiliary or Coastguard, you can claim the pension as being disabled due to the conditions of war or being prisioner of war.
Also if during the Second World War you were a civilian injured or disabled due to enemy attack you are eligible for the pension. If you were in the Polish Resettlement Forces and were injured in the service you can enjoy the facility of pension.
Any disable citizen who chooses going to hospital may find some effect on above mentioned benefits or financial support that they receive. That includes Incapacity Benefit and Disability Living Allowance.
In Living Allowance for disables, if you go into hospital, nothing will usually happen straight away to your Disability Living Allowance. If Disability Allowance is paid to someone aged 16 or over, it will usually stop after the person has been in hospital for four weeks.
The Right of Health, embraces almost every need and requirement, which provides a better and healthy life to the disabled citizens of UK.