But the family was told only one carer could accompany Thomas. In the summer of 2022, Thomas’s grandparents took him to the aquarium after his membership was renewed in June for the first time since the Covid pandemic. John said: “If you spent 30 seconds with Tom, you would know that he needs two carers.”Īs Thomas left school, his care needs were reassessed by the NHS, with officials ruling he required two carers at all times, rather than the one-to-one care he had received up to that point. He is fed with a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube, cannot talk, is registered blind, and is only three months developmentally, according to his father. Thomas, from Higher Kinnerton in Flintshire, north Wales, uses a powered wheelchair, cannot sit or stand, suffers complex epilepsy, and can have multiple seizures a day. When asked to explain why the policy caters for those who need one carer but not for those with severe disabilities which require two carers, Blue Planet Aquarium did not offer a response. We admit a maximum of one free of charge carer per eligible paying guest, with additional carers requiring a valid ticket.” We accept a wide range of forms of eligibility, including Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment letter, a letter from a GP or Consultant confirming the need for a full time carer, or a valid Access Card displaying the ‘essential companion symbol’. It means he can’t come.” Disability charity Scope branded the policy “appalling”, while Ellesmere Port and Neston's Labour MP Justin Madders called on Blue Planet to “reconsider their stance”.Ĭheshire Live reported that a spokesperson for Blue Planet Aquarium said: “Blue Planet Aquarium has always provided guests with health conditions or impairments a free of charge carer’s ticket upon proof of eligibility. John, 53, said: “I can’t understand how they don’t see this as discriminating against Tom. The decision means Thomas would have to pay an extra £25.25 every time he visits the attraction on top of his £75.75 annual membership, or else stump up £606 for annual memberships in the names of each of his eight rotating carers. But Thomas has not been to the aquarium since June 2022, his father says, after the family were told only one carer could accompany Thomas on his membership.īlue Planet has stuck to this stance despite the NHS assessing Thomas as requiring two-to-one care. Thomas, 20, who has profound learning disabilities and complex medical needs, has held a membership for the venue for much of his life, and has previously attended weekly in winter. John Griffiths accused Blue Planet Aquarium in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, of disability discrimination after he was told that the firm's policy does not allow entry for his son's two carers using his season pass. A family attraction has been urged to reconsider an "appalling" policy that has left a young disabled man having to "choose between essential care and enjoying a day out".
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