Wheelchairs

[Zziggi]

Does anyone know who/how/where you get a wheelchair from please?

I have been told through the GP, someone else said through Social Services.

OH's condition is deteriorating and a wheelchair for use some of the time would really help and mean he could get out and about more. I tentatively asked our social worker about this recently as i thought we might need to organise a wheelchair at some point in the future. Social worker was very vague and was very keen to try to push me off to go ask the GP. Other people have said it is via social services so i was wondering if the social worker was mindful of budgets etc etc especially with her vague answer (and she didn't actually say it wasn't social services).

[Savvy_Sue]

I'd have thought ask both, but I thought Social Services. I know Red Cross will loan them if you wanted to borrow one for a short time to see how you get on.

[macchicken]

Go to your gp, get an occupational theripist out to see you, they can advise you on what you need, and they can asist with the getting!

Or argos sell wheelchairs, not sure how much!

[Zziggi]

Go to your gp, get an occupational theripist out to see you, they can advise you on what you need, and they can asist with the getting!

Or argos sell wheelchairs, not sure how much!


yeah we've seen them in argos catalogue. Even got those zippy round electric scooter things for £999. :D Obviously i'm not talking about them, i'm on about the standard ones where you get someone to push you round. I'm sure the easy route would be to just buy one but wondered if there was another way if the item was deemed 'necessary'.

[Jenners]

You need to get your doctor or social services to refer you to an occupational therapist, they will then arrange for you to get measured and try out a few chairs, one will then be order for you. This can take some time so better get round to it sooner rather than later. Once you have your chair social services arrange for it to be checked annually and take care of any repairs.

If you need one before that all gets sorted I am sure British Red Cross or your local Shopmobility will be able to help.

Jen

[shopndrop]

Occupational Therapy can take a long time to even get round to making an assessment. We have been waiting for an assessment for my mother who is blind, since January and are still waiting. Each time I try to follow it up I am told there is a backlog and they will contact us soon. I now need a wheelchair for my father, hopefully short term only. I have one on loan from Red Cross but for a maximum of 28 days. I have also contacted his GP for him to set things in motion for longer term but am still waiting for him to get back to me. Good Luck.