Limb Loss and Limb Difference Community to Gather in Parliament for First Time in Over a Decade

The UK’s limb loss and limb difference community will come together in Parliament on 29 April to raise awareness of the growing number of people affected and the urgent need to strengthen support and prosthetic services nationwide.

The event — the first of its kind in over a decade — takes place during Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month and will bring together charities, healthcare professionals and people with lived experience from across the country.

It comes at a critical time. Amputations in NHS England have now risen to more than 12,000 each year, a significant increase driven by conditions such as diabetes, vascular disease and sepsis, alongside advances in emergency and surgical care that are saving more lives.

Alongside this, thousands of children and families are also affected by congenital limb difference. Medical estimates suggest around one in 1,900 babies are born with a limb difference, highlighting the lifelong importance of prosthetic care, rehabilitation and community support.

The parliamentary event has been made possible thanks to the support of Marie Tidball, whose commitment to disability rights and inclusion has helped bring the community’s voice directly to Westminster. Her team has played a key role in helping coordinate and navigate the parliamentary process.

Representatives from across the limb loss and limb difference sector will attend the event to share lived experiences and highlight the importance of improving access to high-quality prosthetic services, rehabilitation, mental health support and peer support networks.

A spokesperson from LIMbo, representing the limb loss and limb difference community, said:

“With amputations in NHS England now exceeding 12,000 every year and thousands more people born with limb differences, more families than ever are navigating life with limb loss or limb difference.

Bringing our community together in Parliament is a powerful moment. It ensures the voices and experiences of those living with limb loss and limb difference are heard where decisions are made, and highlights the importance of accessible prosthetic services, rehabilitation and long-term support.”

The event forms part of Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, which takes place each April and aims to highlight the experiences, achievements and needs of people living with limb loss and limb difference across the UK.

More information about the campaign can be found at:
www.limblosslimbdifference.org

Organisers hope the parliamentary gathering will strengthen collaboration between policymakers, healthcare providers and community organisations to ensure everyone affected by limb loss or limb difference receives the support they need.