Simon Connolly suffers from cerebral palsy. He cannot speak, walk or use most of his limbs and yet he's had his home-help hours cut in half by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Meanwhile, he is awaiting two operations and requires constant care.

His HSE-funded home-help time was cut from 12 1/2 hours to just 7 1/2 hours per week, which his mother says is just not sufficient to meet his needs. They were not even given an explanation for this decision.

Both of Simon's parents suffer from back problems, however, they have no choice but to lift their son out of bed and into a wheelchair throughout the day.

Simon also has epilepsy and asthma and is due for a hip operation and a scoliosis operation over the next few months. His family is now desperate for help.

Currently, Simon is spending most of his time in bed because his wheelchair has fallen apart. His family is struggling very hard to pay for his vital equipment.

A spokesman for the HSE South said he wasn't able to discuss a patient's details with anyone other than the patient themselves.

Donations to the Simon Connolly benefit can be made via a specially set up Permanent TSB account in Macroom, Co Cork. Account no 13211490 and sort code 990735.

For more information about cerebral palsy, visit http://www.ucp.org

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