The mum of a seriously ill teenager is worried for her life after being refused permission for her care team to travel with her for lifesaving treatment. Freya Hunter, 14, lives with cerebral palsy and struggles with breathing problems, requiring a team of specialist support workers who help her parents with her complex care needs. Mum Carolynne relies on support workers to help her provide 24/7 for her daughter, as Freya is non-verbal and requires regular medical intervention to clear her airways.
After suffering from several illnesses last winter, resulting in a three-week stay in intensive care, doctors told the family that Freya was retaining too much carbon dioxide in her lungs, and needed further treatment. Freya has been recommended a four-day Bipap ventilation trial, which will allow her family to help manage her respiratory system at home. But Carolynne claims that NHS Forth Valley are refusing to allow Freya's team to make the journey to Glasgow with her - which she says would prevent the trial from happening.
"Freya has quite significant healthcare needs," said Carolynne. "She has a high level of medical need 24/7, and she has myself and a staff member to look after her at home all the time. It can be quite unpredictable one minute she can be fine and the next minute her airway can be blocking off.
She needs a person who knows her to be looking after her so they can pre-empt what needs to be done. "You have to know Freya, she has jerky movements and that can be in .