Merseytravel have reversed a decision to ask a five-year-old girl for a disability assessment - and will now assess her over the phone instead.

Jackie Williams, whose daughter, Scarlett, is on the autism spectrum and also suffers from bladder issues, applied for a Merseytravel pass after being advised by hospital staff that she would qualify.

However she was shocked when five months after applying, she received a letter addressed to her five-year-old daughter asking her to attend a disability assessment.

After the ECHO reported on the request - which was at first assumed to be a mix-up - Merseytravel have since reversed their decision and have now asked to complete an assessment over the phone with Jackie, rather than with her school age daughter - a move which they say is for logistical reasons.

She said: “Three hours before her appointment I got a phone call to say that they couldn’t make the appointment and that they’d be asking questions over the phone over the next few days.

“I’ve lost a days’ pay and it disrupted Scarlett at school because I thought she’d be leaving school early for the appointment I didn’t give her a packed lunch. It caused chaos.

“I was up and down the school all morning.”

Jackie Williams from Walton with her daughter Scarlett
Jackie Williams from Walton with her daughter Scarlett

Merseytravel say that the decision to conduct a phone interview with an adult rather than a face-to-face interview with a child is because the occupational therapist was ‘not available’ at the requested time.

A spokesperson said: “Unfortunately, Merseytravel were made aware by our medical provider, Access Independent, that the planned face to face assessment with Scarlett due on 17 January 2018 could not take place as the assessor was not available.

“As the next available assessment date is two weeks away, to avoid any further delay to Scarlett and her family, our provider has offered to conduct a telephone interview with mother in a view to establishing whether sufficient information can be gathered over the telephone to reach an informed decision and award a free travel pass.

“Whilst this is out of procedure, it was offered to Scarlett with the best intention to avoid any further delay to her application.

“If during the telephone call sufficient information cannot be gathered as hoped, then we will make alternative arrangements to see Scarlett and minimise the delay as much as possible.”

The mum-of-three, from Walton, has to get two buses each way to her daughter’s regular appointments at Alder Hey Hospital, as she doesn’t drive and taxis could cost as much as £14 return.

Jackie Williams from Walton with her daughter Scarlett
Jackie Williams from Walton with her daughter Scarlett

Earlier this week she branded a decision to demand her five-year-old attend a disability assessment as “madness”.

She told the ECHO: “I phoned them up. With it being addressed to Scarlett, I thought there was a mix-up, but they just said ‘no, she needs to come. She can bring a friend or family member’.

“I was so shocked, all I could say was ‘all her mates are in school!’

“It’s hard enough having two daughters with autism, but this just seems ridiculous. Her older sister, Melissa, has the same pass and didn’t have to do this.

“I don’t understand what questions they’re going to ask her, and I can’t believe they’ve asked a friend to go with her - she’s five. She can’t even read, she can just about spell her own name - and Merseytravel couldn’t even do that.”