NHS Wheelchair Service
see also: Buying a Wheelchair - Practical Advice
If you have difficulty in walking you could qualify for a wheelchair, you should discuss this with your Doctor, District Nurse, Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist. An Occupational Therapist will assess your needs at your local N.H.S. Wheelchair Service Clinic.
The Wheelchair Service provides appropriate mobility equipment for people of all ages with a long term disability ( i.e. likely to be in excess of 6 months ) who have difficulty in walking.
They will help you choose a wheelchair that meets your needs, including extras like cushions, arm rests or trays. There is usually provision for short term loan wheelchairs (i.e. less than 6 months).
NHS Wheelchair Services are run by local health authorities. They are responsible for allocating funds to the Wheelchair Service and Primary Care Trusts who are responsible for providing the service itself. This sometimes includes contracting the running of the service to an outside company.
It's important to note that the way services are organised and provided varies between locations. This includes the 'eligibility criteria' used to decide what type of wheelchair - if any - to provide, the timescales in which to provide equipment, and the way in which wheelchairs are funded. The basic process is as follows:
- you are referred to a local NHS Wheelchair Service
- an assessment of your needs takes place
- timescales and funding options are discussed
- the wheelchair, and training in its use, is provided
- a maintenance and repair plan(s) is arranged
Wheelchairs can be manual or powered and may be provided with accessories such as cushions, armrests and trays.
Referrals and assessments
Referrals
You will be referred to a service by a hospital, doctor, consultant or occupational therapist or the service may operate a self-referral system.
Each service will have its own eligibility criteria and the details of your referral will be reviewed to work out its priority. This will include the nature and level of your disability and/or medical condition, your lifestyle and needs, where and when you will use the wheelchair and your ability to use any particular type of wheelchair.
Your referral should be acknowledged by the service within a week or so. The service will let the person that referred you know the approximate timescales for you to receive your wheelchair. The time between referral and assessment is usually between two to four weeks.
Assessments
Assessments are normally carried out at NHS Wheelchair Services centres or clinics. Ask your local social services if you need help with transport. The person doing the assessment will be a professional qualified in wheelchair assessments - for example, an occupational therapist.
Occasionally, a hospital consultant or doctor may prescribe a wheelchair.
The process may involve a rehabilitation engineer responsible for how the wheelchair works - its dimensions, functionality and any adjustments, features or fixtures it needs. This includes special postural seating.
Where necessary, a specialist team can provide assessments for equipment for people with severe physical disabilities who cannot use standard wheelchairs and/or controls.
The assessment may include other professionals across health, education and social services. This is especially important if the wheelchair is for a child who will have development needs. All the situations in which a wheelchair may be used - like at school, using transport and social activities - will be part of the assessment. Parents and carers should also be part of the process and their opinions and views considered.
Re-assessment of your needs
When a person's needs change, the Wheelchair Service may conduct a review. This may include, for example, changing from a manual to a powered wheelchair.
Receiving your wheelchair, maintenance and repair
Timescales in which your wheelchair will be delivered can vary depending on the type of wheelchair provided and local resources. It may be from 'standard stock', ordered from a supplier, or 'bespoke' (made to measure). For a bespoke wheelchair, you may have to wait several months.
When ready, there is a formal handover of the wheelchair which could either be at the Wheelchair Service centre or clinic or at your home (or where you are living). This should involve:
- showing you how to use the wheelchair including safety issues
- providing you with relevant documents and a point of contact for future enquiries
- information about insurance and arranging repairs/maintenance - and who is responsible for this
If you move location
If you move to a different area, the wheelchair should go with you. Depending on what type of agreement you have, the new Wheelchair Service may take over the future maintenance of equipment. Minor repairs can often be done at your home.
Types of powered wheelchair
Indoor and/or outdoor powered wheelchairs are for use by disabled people who cannot propel a manual wheelchair. There are criteria for using some types of electric wheelchair. For example, meeting DVLA eye test requirements for road use or the requirement for an attendant to attend a wheelchair clinic/centre along with the user. 'Attendant' means someone who helps push a manual wheelchair or controls a powered wheelchair on someone else's behalf.
There are four types of powered wheelchair offered because a user cannot propel or use a manual wheelchair:
- Electric Indoor Chair - user controlled
- Electric Outdoor Chair - attendant controlled
- Electrically Powered Indoor/Outdoor Chair - user controlled
- Dual Purpose Chair - user controlled indoors, attendant controlled outdoors
Highway regulations group outdoor powered wheelchairs into two categories, Class 2 and Class 3:
- Class 2 wheelchairs must have a maximum speed of 4mph (6.4kph) and are for pavement use only
- Class 3 wheelchairs must have a maximum speed of 8mph (12.8kph) and can be used on roads
Rules 36-46 of the Highway Code cover powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
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