EDINBURGH, Scotland: Members of the Scottish Parliament have called on the Health Minister, Andy Kerr, to investigate why an autistic schoolboy has had his nappy supply rationed by the Highland health authority.

Craig Macdonald, 14, from Carrbridge, suffers from severe epilepsy and autism which make him incontinent. However, he had his nappy quota cut from six a day to four by NHS Highland after a review. His mother claimed she was advised to re-use some pads.

NHS Highland said it was looking into the complaint. It has agreed to supply some extra nappies while an investigation takes place, but the family has described that move as a sweetener.

The health authority's stance has also been criticised by local politicians, who insist that the vulnerable youngster's supplies should never have been rationed in the first place.

A Scottish National Party MSP, Fergus Ewing, pledged to raise the issue with the Health Minister.  And a Conservative MSP, Mary Scanlon, called the move "heartless" and saying she had also had complaints from elderly people who require incontinence pads.

(Source: BBC News Online, April 13, 2005)