Riven headline on bbc1 just now

[compo]

At 6.45 she was the first item on the BBC news

Second news article on BBC1 in a minute!! Well done Riven!

But why did they have the woman from Netmums on the news???

But why did they have the woman from Netmums on the news???

why not? Its a good thing if more people are involved.

Just heard the South Glos council are going to be contacting her to discuss.

I am not saying she should not have been there I was just wondering why as riven is a mumsnetter someone from MN was not on.
Not bothered who was or was not there TBH just wondered

Yay for Mumsnet!

I hope lots of changes are made for Riven and her family, but also every family in a simular situation.

I didn't hear the NMer myself.

I'd guess MNHQ is busy... and also, its not necessarily good if this is perceived as a Mumsnet issue.

I don't think Riven wanted to appear. It's a very important issue as there will be hundreds, if not more, families in this situation. I can't imagine how hard this must be for them.

No I agree it should not be seen as a "mumsnet" thing, but at least this is a platform to highlight the problems parents of disabled children face day to day, all day, everyday.

I think if it get help to everyone who needs it it is a wonderful thing.
Sadly I do not think DC will do much, although I am sure he will try to be seen to be doing stuff.

I don't know FishWife. He's sadly been here also

Go go go girl.

Belled, he was never where Riven is, he had money to pay for care, and I doubt for one moment he ever felt so backed against a wall he was going to place his child in care as there was no other option

As a father who lost a child my heart goes out to him

As a politician I would not trust him as far as I could chuck him

Riven's mum is on itv news now.

Have to add it was just the top story on Surrey local radio too. We just have to make sure they know its not going to go away, and make sure if Riven gets help all those others in similar situations do too.

I don't want to get into the old 'DC could afford care so he doesn't know' malarkey, because he & his wife did give a lot of care to Ivan too...so maybe, being a in the privileged position he was/is in (which isn't actually his fault) he will realise how tough it is for families like Rivens considering the care he did give Ivan?

Just a thought. I am hoping.

Saw the headlines with photo of Rivens DD. A beautiful little girl. All power to Riven.

Wonder what Riv thinks about that!

So some kind of individualised budget sounds like a better plan so the person can spend the money as they need it and it should go straight from central Government to the individuals.

so xenia - how do you protect a child if the parents spend all the money on "alternative" therapies which gave no evidence base instead of social care and support?

These are the difficult issues but I think most parents, most adult disabled and most of those needing care in old age and their own carers on the whole are better at deciding what they need than all conquering all knowing big brother state.

Whatever we have will never be enough of course so it will continue to be a compromise.

As a mother of a disabled child (cerebral palsy with complex epilepsy etc) I know too well the struggle you have with local authorities. My son has severe learning difficulties due to his condition. Although he is in a school that deals with children with moderate learning we have been trying for the past two years to get him a placement in a specialized school who are experts in dealing with his type epilepsy. The stress for the whole family has been enormous and compounded all the more by the council authorities who do not want to spend any more than it has to despite his current school being unsuitable. The school was even instructed on his last review to state that his needs were being met (although school admitted off record he needs would be better met at this specialised school).We are told our opinions are important and yet they are totally ignored. Its so fustrating. The whole system of respite care is a bureaucratical nightmare and felt it was not worth the bother. I hope Riven gets the care she so needs. Perhaps we should march on Downing street, but this would not happen as we are all too busy looking after our children. Thats why politicans feel they can get away with doing as little as possible when it comes to meeting the needs of disabled children.
Thank you for letting me share this rant!!!

I am not for one moment saying Mr and Mrs Cameron did not provide a massive amount of care for their son themselves, I am just saying I do not think they had to face some of the problems riven has to face with her Daughter

As you so rightly stated runawayfishwife dc prob did face emotional worry the same as us all but he would have never had to worry financially x

Exactly, the financial aspect was totally reversed, and that I would think would effect everything else

all my angry sympathy and admiration goes to Gumblina,Riven and others in their situation :folk can be so gushy and sentimental about this stuff but the reality for the guys in the situation is no joke: it's a tough life not helped by stereotyping
gush and unkind sneering or patronising attitudes PLUS I HOPE THEY GET FREE LAUNDERING OF BEDLINEN AND CLOTHES