Disability Law Service

08/10/2026

A wheelchair user was left in tears as she crawled on her "hands and knees" through a train after being told a ramp could not be used to help her off.

Phoebe Tesoriere, 24, who lived in Caerphilly at the time, was on a Great Western Railway (GWR) train from London Paddington to Bath Spa when it happened.

Her family spoke to the assistance desk and were taken to the only designated wheelchair space on the train. Phoebe said she was assured a ramp and assistance would be waiting, but was told she was in a carriage beyond the platform and could not get off.

Phoebe's mum says watching the incident was "traumatic" and left her feeling "helpless".

06/10/2026

What is believed to be Wales' only holiday accommodation for children with additional needs could be forced to close in the next few years because of the age of the two caravans.

Mother-of-six Niaomi Flewers, 39, created the colourful getaway spaces at Trecco Bay Holiday Park, in Porthcawl, Bridgend county, after struggling to find suitable places for her own family.

However, park rules aimed at maintaining high standards of safety and quality mean individual caravans can only stay for a maximum of 15 years before needing to be replaced.

Flewers estimates she will need around £60,000 to replace the two caravans that have provided help for neurodivergent, external families across Wales.

Niaomi Flewers created the colourful getaway spaces after struggling to find suitable places herself.

01/10/2026

Andy Burnham has set out his plan to transform Britain, including by ending the existing state pension triple lock from 2030 to help fund a new national care service.

In his first Labour Party conference speech as prime minister, Burnham also said he wants to pave the way for greater public control over housing, water and energy services, and potentially reform the UK's electoral system.

After days of questions over how to fund his social care reforms in England, Burnham pointed to changing the triple lock to generate "significant savings".

His plans would see the state pension increase every year at least by inflation or 2.5% - but remove the automatic annual link with average earnings.

The PM was at times emotional during his conference speech in which he outlined his long-term plan for the UK.

30/09/2026

If an individual has a care package provided by the council, they can request a review at any time, as long as it is reasonable.

Examples of when reviews can be carried out are: -

👉 A change in care provider.
👉 Issues with the care agency, i.e. carers not turning up on time
or not completing the tasks required.
👉 A change in medical circumstances, i.e. a new diagnosis or
deterioration in health.
👉 The budget provided is not sufficient to meet the person's
needs.

A review for an adult can be requested under S27 Care Act 2014.

28/09/2026

A parent carer is a person aged 18 or over who provides or intends to provide care for a child with a .

A parent carer is entitled to an assessment of their needs as a carer, to explore what support may be needed.

What has been your experience in getting support as a parent carer?

23/09/2026

The NHS is expanding Martha's Rule to all hospital emergency departments in England to help patients and families challenge staff and seek a rapid review of their care if they want.

It is named after Martha Mills, who died aged 13 in 2021 after developing blood poisoning, or sepsis. Her family's concerns were not listened to, which later prompted her parents, Merope and Paul, to change that culture by creating the rule.

Patients, loved ones and staff in A&E units will be able to call a dedicated phone number to trigger an urgent review if a patient's condition is deteriorating and they are concerned this is not being taken on board.

The rule is named after 13-year-old Martha Mills, whose family's concerns about her care were not listened to before her death.

22/09/2026

The Timms Review launched last October with the aim of making sure PIP is fair and fit for the future. Its Interim Report, published in July 2026, found that PIP is no longer fit for purpose.

Disabled people and people with long-term health conditions are being invited to take part in a series of workshops that will help shape recommendations for the future of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/disabled-people-invited-to-shape-recommendations-of-review-into-pip?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=fe323737-c22c-4d81-983b-1864f2b7af37&utm_content=immediately&fbclid=IwY2xjawUfJKRwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMGhHYUZlRnRYTm9UeFpFV2tzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeSl_Pgr3d-cHhhViEzX2Fz79dhobPa8OVvDQlTS4-nr993RyFIV3qvUdbN-U_aem_x23-rXrKD3PM6xf0rHI4uQ

The Timms Review launched last October with the aim of making sure PIP is fair and fit for the future. Its Interim Report, published in July 2026, found that PIP is no longer fit for purpose.

21/09/2026

Disabled campaigners say the government’s decision to lease 29 battery-electric trains that will allow level boarding for disabled passengers at stations across the north of England is a “massive victory” for their campaign.

The announcement by state-owned TransPennine Express (TPE) will see the British-built trains entering service from winter 2034 on routes from Liverpool Lime Street to Scarborough, Manchester Airport to Saltburn, and Manchester Piccadilly to Hull.

Disabled campaigners say the government’s decision to lease 29 battery-electric trains that will allow level boarding for disabled passengers at stations across the north of England is a “massive v…

16/09/2026

The number of people claiming Personal Independence Payments (Pip) in England and Wales has hit a record high, according to new government figures.

As of July, just over four million people were entitled to claim the benefit, compared to 3.83 million the previous year, an increase of 7%, data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) showed.

Pip is designed to support people with the extra costs of being disabled or living with long-term physical or mental health conditions, and eligibility is not affected by a person's income or savings.

In July, Sir Stephen Timms, who is leading a review on Pip, said in his interim report that the system was "not fit for purpose".

An ongoing review into Personal Independence Payments (Pip) has found the system is "not fit for purpose".

15/09/2026

The Timms Review launched last October with the aim of making sure PIP is fair and fit for the future. Its Interim Report, published in July 2026, found that PIP is no longer fit for purpose.

Disabled people and people with long-term health conditions are being invited to take part in a series of workshops that will help shape recommendations for the future of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/disabled-people-invited-to-shape-recommendations-of-review-into-pip?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&utm_source=fe323737-c22c-4d81-983b-1864f2b7af37&utm_content=immediately&fbclid=IwY2xjawUV8WxwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMGhkaVA4OGVqNGh4bWtqejBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEebqZZdLMNiY-U6pi2uki4EhGl6XrzSejRoIf4tMFgwQq6_xoNH7dLJPLagSE_aem_9BtHfbQH8IiSU-9fxSSQqA

The Timms Review launched last October with the aim of making sure PIP is fair and fit for the future. Its Interim Report, published in July 2026, found that PIP is no longer fit for purpose.