I just received this email from Disability Wales that I believe everyone should take interest in to ensure disabled people are treated fairly and equally should they contract Coronavirus. Please read the email below and sign and share the statement below.

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Dear Members

We have published a joint statement with Learning Disability Wales, Wales Council of the Blind and Wales Council for Deaf People regarding the principles that should inform the treatment available to disabled people in the event of contracting Coronavirus Covid-19.

These are difficult and challenging times for the NHS in Wales however it is critical that everyone involved in providing treatment to disabled people is guided by the following principles:

• Our individual chance of benefiting from treatment should we have coronavirus (COVID-19) must not be influenced by how our lives are valued by society.
• Where we have existing health conditions or impairments that are unrelated to our chance of benefiting from treatment, they must not play any part in decision-making regarding our equal right to access such treatment.
• The fact that we might have significant levels of social care and support needs, or that we may do so in future as a result of the pandemic, should not make health staff think that we will not benefit from treatment.
• We have the right to be fully involved in decisions about our own lives, including life and death decisions. Decisions should never be made without our involvement, or consideration of our best interests. There is no justification for policies based on age or disability that do not treat each of us with respect and as individuals.
• We all, and our advocates, have the right to know about decisions that may be made about us that will affect us.
• Guidelines on the assessment, provision, and evaluation of treatment and care provided to individuals during the coronavirus (Covid—19) pandemic must be developed in collaboration with disabled people’s organisations and representatives from human rights bodies.

Please share and sign up to the statement:

https://www.ldw.org.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-and-the-rights-of-disabled-people-in-wales/

Keep safe and well

Rhian Davies

Chief Executive/Prif Weithredydd