Wheelchairs

sunnyone

GlasweJen wrote: »

that's a bit rubbish then, you'd think that would be the acceptable compromise?

I have an online friend (never met her) who is also on the transplant list and she mentions having a chair that other people push for her (she's on the acute list, very weak) but there is a power pack on it as well for short trips and to use in the house, she's in wales so it can't be an nhs chair that she's using.

Wales may be diffrent again, for those of you with devolved goverments have very diffrent NHS's to those of us in the rest of the relm.

saving_pennies

GlasweJen wrote: »

I've no experience of using one but do you think they'd fund a power pack for the manual wheelchair?

I asked if I could buy a power pack to add onto the chair and the lady said that they do not fit all chairs.

NHS in my area do not provide the powerpacks with a manual chair - they said there are so many problems with it. I've seen people with power packs added to their chair and they look like a cheaper option to a full electric chair


Thank you sunnyone for your comment. Once I have the manual chair I will be a user of their service and hopefully that will help.

ni-james

ashley1986 wrote: »

i saw someone selling the nudrive you talk about on ebay for 199 or near offer brand new if that helps anyone

It's funny how the guy selling them on eBay with best offer is also called Ashley, and your other post is about the same product.

saving_pennies

Well I have the manual chair now. Picked it up last week. Moved it about a meter to and fro, and was in such pain in my back, shoulders, neck and head. I had to increase my morphine

My local MP secretary is going to arrange a home visit from the MP. She suggested I get further evidence from my GP, although this is proving difficult as my GP only works two days a week, and the other GP I spoke to said it was between me and the wheelchair service and not him. I speak with my usual GP on Thursday.

My carer was with me when I collected the chair (more like she supported me into the room then pushed me out in the chair and struggled to lift it into her car. How they thought I could collect it alone is beyond my comprehension!) She saw the pain I was in, and so hopefully can provide some evidence too.

Despite the fact I can't self propel the chair, it is very comfortable.

I have tried to talk to the centre manager but still no luck. Apparently she is in tomorrow and I have requested she calls me then. I was told she is very busy at the moment. I firmly stated I have been waiting a while to speak with her and need her to call me tomorrow. I suspect she won't and I will be phoning them again to be told she is in a meeting or dealing with an urgent matter or maybe on holiday again etc etc. :mad:

Chorlie

Is it the standard NHS (Red & Black) wheelchair?

They should of let you try one at the assessment centre before ordering it for you, to make sure it was correct for you (can push it easy, lift it in/ out your car, get in/out of it and it's comfortable) or where you assessed as someone will always be with you when using it to push you, lift you and the chair etc. But it still has to be comfortable or if used for a period of time could course pressure sores.

Also did they explain the voucher system to you and how much your voucher would of been; that way you could of contacted several mobility providers and they would of brought to your home several different chair for you to try at home, get into your car etc. Then used the voucher to buy (or part payment) that chair.

It's more between you, your OT and the wheelchair centre to sort this out rather than your GP. Your GP only really refers you, but may write to explain why they think this chair is wrong for you.

sunnyone

Chorlie wrote: »

Is it the standard NHS (Red & Black) wheelchair?

They should of let you try one at the assessment centre before ordering it for you, to make sure it was correct for you (can push it easy, lift it in/ out your car, get in/out of it and it's comfortable) or where you assessed as someone will always be with you when using it to push you, lift you and the chair etc. But it still has to be comfortable or if used for a period of time could course pressure sores.

Also did they explain the voucher system to you and how much your voucher would of been; that way you could of contacted several mobility providers and they would of brought to your home several different chair for you to try at home, get into your car etc. Then used the voucher to buy (or part payment) that chair.

It's more between you, your OT and the wheelchair centre to sort this out rather than your GP. Your GP only really refers you, but may write to explain why they think this chair is wrong for you.

So many people are asking for wheelchairs now so they are ordering en masse and just delivering them/asking people to collect them without any proper assesment, they are saving assessments for full time users/people with multipul problems according to my DSC (which is where I go)

saving_pennies

I don't think it is the standard NHS wheelchair. It is black with silver frame. Apparently it is made to measure.

You would think that the assessment would include me testing one to see if I could propel it or lift it in and out of a car etc. But no! My assessment involved someone coming to my home and talking to me whilst I was in bed as I was too unwell to get out of bed. They measured my body and also the door width. That's all. I was surprised they didn't even assess my physical ability to move around (or lack of!). So based on my body size and door width of my flat, they gave me a made to measure chair. As I said it is comfortable but certainly not practical. I did point out several times that I couldn't self propel and any attempt would worsen my condition. I also said that it would be a waste of money. There response was: no it won't as it is £200 compared to £2000 power chair. But surely it is a waste of money if it can not be used for the purpose it is needed. I requested a phone call from the manager both before the chair we ordered and after I collected the chair. I still not heard anything.

I asked about the voucher system - apparently this is only for full time powerchair users. I did contact my OT but was told that the social service OT has noting to do with wheelchair or walking aids, this is all via the DSC.

I requested a copy of their criteria for powerchairs and wrote a response saying how I meet each one. I think I was fobbed off as its coming to end of financial year and also because the DSC is busy with changes that are happening in their service. I am also not happy that no one seems to want to talk to me on the phone as they are "very busy". I called yesterday and asked for a phone call from the manager today. That didn't happen so I will call them tomorrow. I'm tempted to say that I will stay on the line until they find someone to talk to me.

sunnyone

saving_pennies wrote: »

I don't think it is the standard NHS wheelchair. It is black with silver frame. Apparently it is made to measure.

You would think that the assessment would include me testing one to see if I could propel it or lift it in and out of a car etc. But no! My assessment involved someone coming to my home and talking to me whilst I was in bed as I was too unwell to get out of bed. They measured my body and also the door width. That's all. I was surprised they didn't even assess my physical ability to move around (or lack of!). So based on my body size and door width of my flat, they gave me a made to measure chair. As I said it is comfortable but certainly not practical. I did point out several times that I couldn't self propel and any attempt would worsen my condition. I also said that it would be a waste of money. There response was: no it won't as it is £200 compared to £2000 power chair. But surely it is a waste of money if it can not be used for the purpose it is needed. I requested a phone call from the manager both before the chair we ordered and after I collected the chair. I still not heard anything.

I asked about the voucher system - apparently this is only for full time powerchair users. I did contact my OT but was told that the social service OT has noting to do with wheelchair or walking aids, this is all via the DSC.

I requested a copy of their criteria for powerchairs and wrote a response saying how I meet each one. I think I was fobbed off as its coming to end of financial year and also because the DSC is busy with changes that are happening in their service. I am also not happy that no one seems to want to talk to me on the phone as they are "very busy". I called yesterday and asked for a phone call from the manager today. That didn't happen so I will call them tomorrow. I'm tempted to say that I will stay on the line until they find someone to talk to me.

Thats not a custom chair but a chair that comes in various (width/depth) sizes and they are totally difrent things, that chair isnt even a untra lightweight and it can weigh even more than another chair called normal weight chairs, did they even fit you to the basic chair and do a cushion assessment.

They are very lazy.

saving_pennies

sunnyone wrote: »

Thats not a custom chair but a chair that comes in various (width/depth) sizes and they are totally difrent things, that chair isnt even a untra lightweight and it can weigh even more than another chair called normal weight chairs, did they even fit you to the basic chair and do a cushion assessment.

They are very lazy.

Apparently the chair weighs 2 stone and is a lighter version of what they used to use. My able-bodied carer struggled to get it into her car when we collected it, no idea how they expect me to do it.

I was given a cushion for the chair but had no assessment for this.

I agree, they seem lazy. Also they don't seem to treat me as someone with individual needs.

sunnyone

saving_pennies wrote: »

Apparently the chair weighs 2 stone and is a lighter version of what they used to use. My able-bodied carer struggled to get it into her car when we collected it, no idea how they expect me to do it.

I was given a cushion for the chair but had no assessment for this.

I agree, they seem lazy. Also they don't seem to treat me as someone with individual needs.

I totally agree with you, we are individuals with individual needs and wheelchairs are as personal as shoes or beds so they need to fit and work with you and your lifestyle.

"Lighter version" means nothing, a tank is still a tank and is still as heavy and imobile as a tank which isnt something that you want in a mobility aid.

Cushions are a little bit more individual again that a wheelchair because again we are all diffrent but we all have pressure issues when when unable to stand/walk for long periods, Im still getting used to my new cushion but they left me the old one and I can keep it forever now which makes it so much easier to get used to a new (better for me, so they say) cushion.