The Department of Health has made the decision to fully fund sports and activity prostheses for children in England who have suffered from limb loss or were born with a limb deficiency. Up until now, there has been no dedicated funding available for children's activity or sports limbs. This decision allows children and young people, previously restricted to standard everyday prosthetic limbs, to become more active and involved in physical activity. Whether it's playing games at school, becoming involved in PE, participating in organised sports or aspiring to be a Paralympian, this funding will ensure that hundreds of children can lead a fit and healthy lifestyle. Providing children and young people with the opportunity to participate in sport and activity with their peers not only ensures they will get the exercise they need for healthy development, but also helps to build their social skills and improve their self-confidence.

NHS Limb centres in England may request funds for individual sport & activity prosthetics they have prescribed up to the value of £5000 for each limb (including all the associated costs of the new limb, such as a new socket).

In order to gain some satisfactory outcome measures to support the application process, the child may be asked to spend a few weeks on a trial limb. Ottobock have a team of specialist Prosthetists from our Academy who are on hand to support and offer advice to parents, patients and prosthetists in selecting and fitting the best limb. They are able to attend the clinic appointments to assist the prosthetist in the correct set up, alignment and fine tuning of the trial limb. We are also on hand to attend the fitting and delivery of the final prosthesis to ensure that the child or young person is getting the very best from the new limb.

For more information about the policy and how your child can be funded a sports and activity prosthesis, please see our Parent’s Guide under the downloads tab.

Parents in England can now take their child to their NHS Limb Fitting Centre to be assessed for eligibility and following assessment, must meet all of the following criteria:

A) The child or young person is under the age of 18 at the time of assessment

B) The child or young person has suffered limb loss or congenital limb deficiency

C) The child is medically fit to engage in physical activity

D) The child or young person will benefit from the prosthesis and from engaging in physical activity (this could include PE, sports or games at school, recreation, playing with friends or organised sporting activity)

E) The prosthesis is appropriate for the child or young person and the activity it was intended for

F) The child has demonstrated an interest in the physical activity or sport in question e.g. member of a club and has sought information on the sport.

For further information on your child’s eligibility for a funded sports and activity prosthesis, please view our Parent’s Guide under the downloads tab.