Page 70 - BHTA 100 years

New role, Protection Scheme,
Wheelchair Wise and Lifetime
Achievement Award...
The year 2000 saw Sarah Lepak, who was the Committee Secretary, take up the role as Registration and General Services Manager, looking after the new registration scheme. Mike Simms, who was Research and Information Of cer, became the Member Services Manager.
The launch of the Registration Scheme took place in October 2000 at the House of Commons. Gerald Simonds of Gerald Simonds Healthcare and Martin Corby of Raymar Healthcare were the rst to submit their applications.
Also in October, Minister for Health, John Hutton spoke at the AGM.
There was also discussion in 2000 about BHTA introducing an ABTA-style scheme to offer protection to end-users. The proposed scheme would mean that members would honour deposits paid to another member in their locality, should they go into liquidation. The deposit protection scheme would be launched in the summer of 2001.
In January, the Wheelchair Wise Campaign was launched. A joint initiative between BHTA and the Department of Environment, Transport and Regions, aimed to increase the awareness of safe wheelchair and scooter travel. Transport Minister, Keith Hill said: “I believe it is an important initiative which will be enormously helpful to wheelchair users and the transport industry.” Accompanying the launch was the publication of a ‘Highway Code’ for scooter and wheelchair users.
An online business hub was launched by the Association which was designed to provide members with effective tools when dealing with government agencies.
BHTA 100 years