Wheelchair supply or loan

almar_2

Babshubbie wrote: »

It would be helpful if you would amplify, please. What part of the hospital did you ring? Perhaps the occupational therapy dept? Were you an in-patient recently, and if so how long ago? My wife was offered a wheelchair when she was discharged but felt she could manage without. Now she feels that a push type (not self wheeled) might help but she has been too long discharged (15 months) to qualify.

When I got to the stage where I could no longer walk unaided. I rang my local hospital (main hospital number) and asked if they have a wheelchair service. They then put me through to the wheelchair department. I was then asked to get a letter from my GP to confirm my need for a wheelchair.

The GP sent the letter direct to the hospital, who then sent me an appointment to go and try out the wheelchair to find the best suited. I have had my wheelchair for over two years now and had a man come to my house to check / service it twice so far at no cost.

This provision may differ in other areas and under different health authorities or local authorities.

Hope that helps.


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Babshubbie

almar wrote: »

Hope that helps.

It certainly does. Thank you for a comprehensive reply. :T :T :T

almar_2

Found this info from here.

http://www.enabletogether.co.uk/independentliving/benefits/nhswheelchairservice.php

NHS Wheelchair Service & Voucher Scheme


If it’s difficult for you to move around your home, even for a short time, a wheelchair may be the answer.
An occupational therapist or physiotherapist will assess your needs at home, in hospital or at your local National Health Service (NHS) Wheelchair Assessment Centre.
The NHS Wheelchair Service will help you choose a wheelchair that meets your needs. You can also get wheelchair accessories, including cushions, armrests or trays.

NHS Wheelchair Voucher Scheme

This Voucher Scheme for the supply of Manual Wheelchairs is now fully operational in most Wheelchair Centres. The scheme was introduced by the last Government to provide extra funding for NHS Wheelchair Services to increase the choice in provision for wheelchair users.
Under the new scheme disabled people have three choices:-

The NHS Option
A standard manual wheelchair supplied free of charge that meets the users basic mobility needs. The chair remains the property of the NHS and will be eligible for free maintenance from the local wheelchair service contractor appointed to run the maintenance and repair service.
The Partnership Option

Where a user wishes to have the security of NHS maintenance and repair services, they can choose to contribute to the cost of a wheelchair from a range of Manual chairs selected by the Wheelchair Service. The wheelchair user will be required to meet the additional cost of the wheelchair to the approved supplier. The NHS will own the chair and be responsible for its maintenance and repair.
The Independent Option
The user can choose and purchase any manual wheelchair from the approved supplier, provided it meets their clinical need. The user will own the chair and be responsible for its maintenance and repair. The voucher will include an amount towards the chairs repair and maintenance.
Approved Suppliers
There will be a list of approved suppliers who will be supervised by the Wheelchair Service and who meet their criteria.
Voucher Period
The average period should be about five years, however, the users clinical condition should always be taken into account in deciding an appropriate period for the voucher.
Not Included
Powered wheelchairs, pressure relieving cushions and special seating systems will continue to be supplied by the Wheelchair Service.
VAT
A wheelchair provided under the Partnership Option remains the property of the NHS and is subject to VAT (the VAT element should be paid by the NHS Trust who will own the chair). Wheelchairs provided under the Independent Option will be zero rated under item 2 of group 12 of schedule 8 of the VAT Act 1994.
How to apply
Existing users of the NHS Wheelchair Service should contact their local Wheelchair Assessment Centre directly and request an assessment for an alternative chair under the Partnership or Independent Options. New applicants should contact their GP or therapist who can send a referral to the service.
If you need more information you can contact one of the following:

Wheelchair Users Group
Goodhew House
119 Enbrook Valley
Folkestone
Kent CT20 3NE
Tel: 01303 226500 Fax: 01303 226500 E-mail: [EMAIL="wchairuser@aol.com"]wchairuser@aol.com[/EMAIL]

Vampgirl

If you can't get a wheelchair through your local NHS, or you only need one short-term then the Red Cross are really good as they loan wheechairs and other aids (often totally free of charge). We have often borrowed one for a week or so to take my mother in law away for a break. We've never even had to pay a deposit, but we do leave a donation in return for the service, though this is totally voluntary.

margaretclare

Our church keeps a wheelchair for loan to anyone who needs it.

Am interested that you got a wet room installed - how much did this cost, and how long did it take to be done?

We can't have one here because of the floorboards and joists and connection with the old drains (a 1932 bungalow). The best I could do was a 'low profile' shower enclosure which our local builder installed for me, a 10 cm step-in which is a lot better than the one we had before, but wouldn't be any use if you want to transfer from a wheelchair. With the new loo (modern and slightly higher than the old one) it cost us nearly £2K - money well spent.

However I still don't know what we'd do if DH ends up having a leg amputation, which is still a possibility. At present his whole leg is in a splint and he puts it into a bin-bag to get into the shower.

LameWolf

Red Cross were great when we went to Guernsey a few years back, and I didn't want to risk my wheelchair on the plane in case it got damaged. They delivered the loan chair to our hotel, and also emailed me loads of information re disabled-friendly places to visit.

anguk

Margaretclare, my OH is an amputee. We only have the shower over the bath but have a bathboard for him to sit on, he sits on the edge of the bathboard, takes his false leg off then swivels round to have his shower. You can get chairs to fit in the shower but I don't know if they fit in a cubicle and my OH has only used them in hospital wetrooms. If we had a shower cubicle I would buy a special cover that you can get to go over prosthetic legs to keep them dry or you can get a prosthetic "swim-leg", they're waterproof so you can use it in the shower.

We had fun when he first had his leg amputated, he had problems and it took 8 months to heal before he could have a prosthetic leg so had to use his wheelchair and our bathroom is upstairs. He used to wheel himself to the bottom of the stairs, climb up the stairs and into the bathroom on his knees, haul himself onto the loo then hop over to the side of the bath! At the time we didn't even have a bathboard so he just used an ikea stool in the bath.

margaretclare

anguk wrote: »

Margaretclare, my OH is an amputee. We only have the shower over the bath but have a bathboard for him to sit on, he sits on the edge of the bathboard, takes his false leg off then swivels round to have his shower. You can get chairs to fit in the shower but I don't know if they fit in a cubicle and my OH has only used them in hospital wetrooms. If we had a shower cubicle I would buy a special cover that you can get to go over prosthetic legs to keep them dry or you can get a prosthetic "swim-leg", they're waterproof so you can use it in the shower.

We had fun when he first had his leg amputated, he had problems and it took 8 months to heal before he could have a prosthetic leg so had to use his wheelchair and our bathroom is upstairs. He used to wheel himself to the bottom of the stairs, climb up the stairs and into the bathroom on his knees, haul himself onto the loo then hop over to the side of the bath! At the time we didn't even have a bathboard so he just used an ikea stool in the bath.

Thanks for these suggestions - very useful. The idea of the special cover to go over prosthetic legs - he has one of these already but uses a bin-bag because this splint is so huge that the waterproof cover wouldn't go over it.

I got our bathroom done because the original 'step-in' was too high - I had problems with it myself when I fractured my pelvis last year. It's now a 10 cm step - was twice that with the old enclosure.

We found the physio/rehab people in hospital were less than helpful when I asked for advice about what to do about the shower. 'Oh he can have a daily strip-wash, that's hospital policy on discharge'. This to a man who has been used to a daily shower for much of his adult life. Grrrr!

RAGSTORICHES

After writing original post I went to Dr. couldn't understand a word he said apart from I would get a letter and "we would see what happened".
I am still waiting for letter.
I had wet room fitted at no cost to myself four years ago.Near where I live there is a place called Tendring home improvements.They help fill in benefit forms.They also know how to apply for grants to adapt your home to meet your needs.I had to have a visit from social services etc.You have to sign to say you will not move from your house for 5 years or repay the cost.
I live in a bungalow with wooden floors but they cover it in a special material, it is non slip and covers all of floor and goes a few inches up wall.

debbsi

Hi
i work in Occupational Therapy in a hospital - if you are know to social services ask them to refer you to the community ot's or you may already be know to community ot if you have had equipment before - your gp can asses you for a wheelchair - but they will probably just refer you on to the community - what area do you live?
where did you get your current wheelchair from? if it was provided by the nhs then they should provide you with a new one
dont hesitate to ask me any questions i am trained to assess for wheelchairs myself so will help the best i can
Deb x