THE Daily Echo's Make a Difference campaign has received a massive boost.

It has sparked a sweeping government review of the NHS's artificial limbs provision.

And health minister John Hutton has revealed he wants to make well-fitting life-like limbs available free for children on the NHS.

The move was wideley welcomed by the families of young children who need artificial limbs and MPs who threw their weight behind the campaign.

Three cross-party Hampshire MPs took a deputation to Whitehall to highlight the Daily Echo's campaign yesterday.

It demands reforms within the NHS to let young amputees have the chance to lead normal lives.

The MPs presented Mr Hutton with yesterday's Echo front page letter which said that limbs currently available are ill-fitting, painful and too restrictive for youngsters.

Mr Hutton will meet with Department of Health officials next week to look at ways of changing the system.

Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead, who led the delegation, said it was a step in the right direction but this was still only the beginning.

He added: "I was very optimistic during the meeting. He has promised that he will investigate the need for cosmetically pleasing limbs for children to be standard items of supply through the NHS. He said he will look at ways of getting good cosmetic limbs available to all.

"If the outcome of this is that the limbs which presently are only available from companies outside the NHS are brought within the NHS then that would substantially resolve a number of issues that parents of young amputees in our area have put to us.

"We discussed how children who are experiencing problems now could be generally helped by a change in how the NHS works for them."

Winchester MP Mark Oaten added: "I am extremely encouraged that the minister understands the problems that youngsters are facing.

"He has given us assurances that this is an issue that the government will look at and has committed himself to looking at ways in which the NHS can improve its service in delivering limbs for young children."

New Forest East MP Julian Lewis said he was cautiously optimistic about the outcome.

"The minister said their aim is that everybody should be supplied with a proper cosmetic limb free of charge. This would be the ideal situation and we would all cheer that if it happens," he said.

However, Mr Hutton refused to be drawn on exactly how this could be achieved.

"These things take time but he has committed himself to looking at it," said Mr Whitehead. "This is a much better system than the original voucher system that we were asking for as parents of children will be able to get good fitting limbs without having to pay out themselves."

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