A mother-of-four has started a petition demanding an end to cuts in public spending on services for children with disabilities after she says a “vital lifeline” for her family was taken away.

Charlotte Skillen’s three-year-old son Lee has a rare genetic condition called Kleefstra syndrome, which, among other problems, means he requires oxygen, uses a feeding tube and has delayed development.

She was devastated when he was diagnosed and did not know who to turn to for help.

About 18 months ago, Mrs Skillen and Lee were given access to a key worker, a helper who would sort out everything from respite care at Demelza Hospice Care for Children in Bobbing to assisting with disability grants and liaising with occupational therapists and chasing referrals.

But last month, Mrs Skillen, from Premier Way, Kemsley, was told her key worker was being made redundant.

“We’re having to do it ourselves now,” she said. “It’s so hard for families in need.

"My son has lost his key worker, the glue that holds everything together" - Charlotte Skillen

“It was all down to the fact there were too many people on the waiting list and the service was cut. We’ve been left with no one.”

Her son cannot receive help from Kent County Council’s social services department as his needs are medical and now, she says, her family is left without support.

The 32-year-old added: “Our key worker knew all of the families and she was really upset about it. I had no letter and she told me that, come January or February, she’d have no job.”

A full-time carer for Lee, Mrs Skillen is now taking up the fight with Medway Community Healthcare (MCH) and Swale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) which plan and pay for health services in the area.

“Swale has no key workers, but Canterbury has four and they’re advertising it on their website – it shouldn’t be a postcode lottery,” Mrs Skillen added.

She has created an online petition via change.org opposing the cuts and has contacted MP Gordon Henderson. A spokesman for Mr Henderson said he was still waiting for a response from the healthcare organisations involved.

A spokesman for both MCH and Swale CCG said: “We are sorry to hear of the difficulties this family has encountered.

“We can assure families with children and young people living with disabilities there are robust mechanisms available to help them access the support services they need.

“We have a duty to make sure high quality, reliable services are equally accessible across the area.

“Many people who needed this support previously experienced long delays or were unable to access the help they needed.”