Katie Price Left Devastated as Council Denies Son Harvey’s Healthcare Funding
Katie Price is heartbroken after West Sussex Council refused to fund care for her son Harvey, claiming he has “no healthcare issues.” This crushing blow comes just months after Katie was forced to pull Harvey out of a pricey £350,000-a-year college following her bankruptcy.
Council Says Harvey Only Needs Social Care, Not Healthcare
The 46-year-old former glamour model revealed an assessor concluded that Harvey, 22, “only needs social care.” Harvey is blind, autistic, and suffers from septo-optic dysplasia and a learning disability. He also has the rare genetic disorder Prader-Willi syndrome, one of just 2,000 cases in the UK.
Harvey has been living at the specialist National Star College in Gloucestershire, a residential facility tailored to his needs. But Katie announced in March she had to withdraw him after the council refused to fund his place at the distant college.
Battle Over Funding Amid Katie’s Financial Struggles
Katie has openly discussed her fight to secure funding for Harvey’s education while grappling with hefty tax debts and bankruptcy. She fears Harvey could be forced into social care homes instead of specialist education and is desperately searching for a suitable placement closer to her new rented home in Sussex.
“The socials came back yesterday, and they believe by seeing Harvey that he has no healthcare issues. They think he only needs social care,” Katie told fans on her podcast, The Katie Price Show. “They want him to live in a social care place.”
Katie stressed that Harvey’s doctors and social worker are backing her in appealing the decision. She highlighted Harvey’s critical health needs, including cortisol deficiency requiring medication to keep him alive and risks of an adrenaline crisis.
“He’s on medicine to keep him alive… he can go into adrenaline crisis at any time,” she said. “If he’s ill, he ends up in hospital. What are they on about? Everyone knows Harvey has healthcare issues. It’s been documented.”
From Bankruptcy to Battling for Her Son’s Future
Katie was Harvey’s primary carer until he turned 19. Since 2021, he has lived independently at National Star College—a vital option funded by local authorities, costing up to £350,000 annually. Katie revealed in March that funding was refused, leaving Harvey with just three months to find alternative care.
“With someone like Harvey, you need a transitional move, you need to do it slow,” she explained.
Katie documented Harvey’s journey in the BBC documentary Katie Price: Harvey and Me, showing the challenges of him living away from his mother for the first time.
Last month, Katie’s £2 million mansion was repossessed by court bailiffs due to her financial woes. She has since moved into smaller rented accommodation in Sussex but insists she has “sorted” her debts.
Harvey’s Bright Spot: Guinness World Record Holder
Despite challenges, Harvey celebrated a huge achievement in July 2023 when he set a Guinness World Record for the longest train drawing—a 21.3-meter picture of his favourite Thameslink engine and carriages. The record was part of a Guinness World Records impairments initiative, supported by Mencap, highlighting Harvey’s remarkable talent against the odds.
