Page 72 - BHTA 100 years

First female Chairman, selling controversy, VAT appeal and new Code of Practice...
Jenny North, MD of Radcliffe Rehabilitation became Chairman of the Postural Support Section in 2002. Jenny was the Association’s rst lady Chairperson for a Section. She said: “When Radcliffe Rehab joined BHTA in 1995, very few women attended Section meetings. That has changed and it is good that we are seeing more women becoming actively involved with the BHTA.”
Pressure was being ramped up on the industry as 69 MP’s had signed an Early Day Motion on miss-selling of assistive mobility equipment. It followed a ‘Which?’ report that had painted the industry in a less than complimentary light and a Ricability report which was just as scathing.
Meanwhile, the Association was promoting the fact that member companies services and equipment could contribute to
reducing bed blocking in the NHS. Two reports, The
Wanless Report: ‘Securing our future health: taking
a long term view’ and an Audit Commission report: ‘Fully Equipped’ had recognised that investing in the NHS included investing in equipment and services. The Association said: “People that can be treated in their own homes not only free up beds, but the improved quality of life of being in their own homes is enormous.”
Issues with VAT were on the agenda once again too, but this time it was the prosthetic and orthotic Sections that were involved. The Association launched a successful VAT appeal on behalf of the prosthetic and orthotic companies after a problem on the application of VAT to professional services surfaced. BHTA secured a moratorium on payments
Memories from...
“Ray Hodgkinson
One of the big changes for the
Association came when we started to look at a Code of Practice. It took a lot of time to get everybody on board but it was vital as there were, at the time, a lot of concerns about the industry. I remember that I sat in front of a Minister and was told that if we didn’t do something about regulating the industry, the government would. That was the message I took back”to the membership.
BHTA 100 years