Worthing family's fight for NHS treatment

SMILING baby Kieran Ventress-Vizela looks like he doesn't have a care in the world '“ but his mum says to give him a happy future he needs some vital treatment for a head defect.

Kieran has plagiocephaly and brachycephaly, two little-known skull conditions which can affect young babies, and at nine-months-old he needs treatment to correct it now before his skull becomes fully formed.

But mum Zoe Ventress says she has been told the NHS will not pay the 2,000 for Keiran's treatment '“ which would involve wearing a special helmet 23 hours a day '“ and so she is taking matters into her own hands.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On Saturday, December 12, Zoe, Keiran's dad Ricardo and his godmother Ana Filipe participated in a sponsored 10k jog from Worthing to Shoreham ands back in a bid to raise money for the Headstart4Babies charity.

Treatment considered cosmetic

Zoe, 27, noticed Keiran's headshape, which is flat at the back and has made his forehead protrude out on one side, when he was around three months old.

After feeling brushed off by the NHS, she went to a clinic in Surrey which confirmed the condition.

Zoe said: "We have been told the NHS won't pay for the treatment because it is seen as cosmetic.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"But what happens when he gets older, it could get even worse and he could get bullied."

Zoe said despite being told the condition might get better, for Kieran it has been getting worse and worse.

People can sponsor Zoe www.justgiving.com/zoe-ventress

Find out how Zoe got on by reading more in the Worthing Herald, out on Thursday, December 17.

-------------------------------------

Click here to go back to Worthing news.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: [email protected]

Click here for the Herald staff directory.

Want to read this page in French, German, Spanish, Polish, Portuguese, Urdu or 48 other languages? click here for Google translate.

Related topics: