Government urged to fund bionic limbs on NHS to turn 'disabilities into superpowers'

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At present, the NHS regularly provides fake arms that look like the coin but cannot move, allowing families to collect 12,000 £ for each "bionic" prosthetic limb that can function

Darcie-May Ferris met Marshall Janson (

Image: COLIN HIGGS/APEX)

Little Darcie-May dreams of becoming a ballerina… and she's just one of many children whose lives could be changed if the government funds bionic limbs on the NHS this month.

The two-year-old lost her arm and several fingers after a stroke and struggles to do basic things like eat with her hands. She uses her feet to compensate.

At present, the NHS routinely provides fake arms that look like the piece but cannot move, allowing families to raise £12,000 for each 'bionic' prosthetic limb that can function.

NHS England says it needs to consider 'whether [the member] represents the best use of NHS resources'.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel with the NHS expected to decide at the end of August whether or not to routinely order 'multi-grip' upper limb prostheses.

Open Bionics is based in Stoke Gifford (

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Bristol Live)

Alex Ferris, Darcie-May's father, said, "I urge them to make the right decision.

The 29-year-old, from Parr, Cornwall, added: "The NHS ones are for looks only - they don't provide gripping function.

"They are just if you walk down the street, it looks like you have this member.

"But I would prefer it looked like a fake arm and you could use it. They aren't cheap, but I'm sure there are more expensive things on the NHS that are recognized as needed, so why not members?"