A reigning Paralympic champion has told BBC News that NHS prosthetics need to be improved to produce England’s “next generation” of gold medals.
Speaking ahead of the Paris Paralympics, runner Richard Whitehead said the prosthetic was “not fit for purpose” as it failed to allow full range of motion and could cause discomfort and skin irritation when running.
The NHS does not routinely provide sports prosthetics – also known as limbs – to adults.
NHS England says that many fitness and physical activities can be done without sports-specific prosthetics.
Whitehead, a double above-the-knee amputee who specializes in marathon running, has won numerous world titles. He is also proud to have two Paralympic gold medals in the shorter distances, which he contested because there was no marathon for the disabled category.
The many physical and mental benefits make him want to see more amputees participating in sports.
“I want to see more young people walking (and) climbing trees in sports prosthetics, in walking blades – I don’t see them,” he told BBC News.
In the United States, if someone with prosthetics runs a marathon, “it’s not a special event”, says Whitehead.
But in the UK, where barriers to participation in sports include lack of equipment and high costs, it is still.
The cost of lower limb prosthetics varies depending on the type, from £1,000 to over £50,000.
Government funds The launch in 2017 means that eligible children can get sports prosthetics through their local NHS England limb centre.
But after the age of 18, this funding stops and patients receive NHS membership based on prescriptions based on individual needs, so they often give up exercise, Whitehead said.
The NHS prescription is “restrictive” and some patients are even told to be less physically active to avoid growing out of the prosthetic.
Jamie Gane, number one in the world for obstacle racing, had a below-knee amputation in 2016, but took some time to get the right prosthetics to start his journey to elite sports.
Shortly after the amputation, Gane was given a prosthetic leg provided by the NHS which he described as “useless” because it was too difficult for him to walk.
While he waited for another operation, it took 18 months for him to be given a prosthetic leg that he could walk on, so he paid to have it fitted privately so he could use the gym and finally start walking.
After he could prove he would be used to exercise, Gane was given an NHS membership suitable for his level of fitness – but he said it did not allow him some of the range of motion he needed.
“I might do a few Parkruns and a few sports but not at the level I’m at now,” he said.
But David Rose, of the Limbless Association charity, said improvements in technology and more funding meant NHS prosthetics services were helping people get more “than five to 10 years ago”.
Since losing his leg 45 years ago, Mr Rose has been fitted with numerous NHS prosthetics.
A keen cricketer for much of his life, he said playing sports was the only thing that kept him going
And while he sympathizes with Whitehead’s view, “we have to make the best of what we have”.
Walid Saleh, 26, a one-leg amputee from a young age, was inspired by Whitehead’s 200m gold win at the London Paralympics.
And Whitehead’s charitable foundation is now helping him towards his own dream, competing in the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics, by providing his first walking limb.
But Saleh says being an athlete is about more than just winning and gold medals – and his mental health has improved since being active.
“The running blade allows me to overcome my disability,” he said.
As the 2024 Paralympics begin, Whitehead wants the foundation to inspire the next generation.
But he added: “To have the next generation of Paralympic athletes and gold medals, we need to make a change – and that change needs to start with the NHS really believing in what is best for patients.”
NHS England officials say the NHS provides a range of prosthetics for people who have lost a limb and that many fitness and physical activities can be carried out without sports-specific prosthetics.
When determining whether a patient will benefit from prosthetics or adaptations that will help with fitness and physical activity, health care providers consider a variety of factors — including whether the patient has a history of participating in the activity and is fit enough to use it, the official added.