Mr. Michael Meere:

In answer to the question, it does have a dramatic effect. I would experience a lot of psycho-social, emotional and psychological issues which lead on to physiological problems. It is a vicious cycle because one experiences things psychologically and then it starts to interfere with parts of one's body, often parts of one's body that are already experiencing the effects of an accident or trauma. It has a major effect. I find that my depression fluctuates with it, to be honest, and I find myself going to the doctor to increase or decrease medication as needs be. It is these external forces that are at play; it is not me, in my mind, saying that I want to feel upset today. It is actually external forces that can make me feel upset, ostracised or segregated.

There are lots of systematic studies out there which prove that psychological issues lead to physiological effects and some kind of intervention, in some shape or form, is needed. Basically, what is required is a plan. Reference was made earlier to the Scottish healthcare model and it was suggested that this committee may need to invite representatives from Scotland to appear before it. In Scotland, there are disabled people on the committees that formulate policy. That is why they have such an integrated system.