How to obtain a wheelchair?

Tehya

Hi all,

My husband has severe psoriatic arthritis and is in reciept of DLA mid care and high mobility.

His condition has deteriated and his ability to walk even the very short distances he may have managed before is virtually none existent now.

Who do I apporach to try and get him assessed for a wheelchair, do you go through social services, the hospital or will they say the DLA is supposed to cover it?

Every penny, plus some, is spent getting him to hospital in taxis at the moment so there's nothing left of his mobility DLA and the care is spent on a paid for carer to give me a break once a week so there's nothing really left to save for up for one.

Thanks for reading and for any pointers.

jetta_wales

I think you're supposed to get the GP to refere you to the service as they can be provided on the NHS. Might not be anything fancy though.

Somebody else will likely clarify with more detail though I'm sure

sgriffiths

When i first needed a wheelchair ten years ago i just saw the gp and he signed a referral form for me to the local wheelchair service. Once there i was measured and given an appropriate wheelchair. I did have quite a wait though for the first appointment.

Hope this helps

Tehya

Yes it does as seeing our GP never crossed my mind; thank you both. I'll make an appointment ASAP.

Thanks again.

saving_pennies

A referal for a wheelchair via NHS can take some weeks/months. It is worth doing though. In the meantime you could contact your local red cross. They can loan you a wheelchair. Most red cross centres ask for a letter from your GP to confirm your need.

Follow the link below and select your area and medical equipment

http://www.redcross.org.uk/Where-we-work/In-the-UK

At my local red cross, loans are free of charge. They do accept donations.

adviceforall

My OT said she could organize it as well.

sunnyone

I got my first chair in rehab and all since have come direct from wheelchair services and as already posted they can also be accessed via your Gp but beware, they can just write his height and weight on a form and fax it through to wheelchair services and they will then just deliver a tractor with no regard for you or your husbands health needs, you need to make sure that you get a proper accessment and that you get a chair you can use.

Will he be able to use a manual wheelchair alone?

Are you strong enought to propel a man of his size in a wheelchair easily?

Does he need standard seating or something more comfortable?

If you think about what would work now you will have more chance of getting it right first time.

Good luck,

saving_pennies

To follow on from sunnyone's post - if you are referred to wheelchair services and assessed, it is important you are happy with the outcome. My first assessment involved a visit from the wheelchair services who wrote down my height and the door width and that is all that was used to give me a manual chair that I can't use independently! I demanded a second assessment and in the middle of a long process for a power chair. Make sure in the assessment you cover all your health needs. The assessor should look at your ability to move, sit, transfer, propel a chair etc. You will be asked where you intend to use the chair, e.g. indoors only or both indoors and outdoors. And consider if you need to get the chair into a car (adapted cars are available via motability).

If you are not sure what sort of chair is needed, maybe do a google search or visit your local mobility shop who will have a range for you to try. Use all this as research for when you have a wheelchair assessment.

sunnyone

saving_pennies wrote: »

To follow on from sunnyone's post - if you are referred to wheelchair services and assessed, it is important you are happy with the outcome. My first assessment involved a visit from the wheelchair services who wrote down my height and the door width and that is all that was used to give me a manual chair that I can't use independently! I demanded a second assessment and in the middle of a long process for a power chair. Make sure in the assessment you cover all your health needs. The assessor should look at your ability to move, sit, transfer, propel a chair etc. You will be asked where you intend to use the chair, e.g. indoors only or both indoors and outdoors. And consider if you need to get the chair into a car (adapted cars are available via motability).

If you are not sure what sort of chair is needed, maybe do a google search or visit your local mobility shop who will have a range for you to try. Use all this as research for when you have a wheelchair assessment.

Your NHS wheelchairs are meant to last 5 years, its a long time with a tractor to drag about when there are so many options avaialble today.

I dont think the OP has a car (apologises if Im mistaken) so taxi's, bus's and train's need considering as well as any family memebers vehicles etc. because it one thing using your own car and another someone else;s because there will always be a little bit damage to the car with a wheelchair, although motability are fabulous about it if you go down that route and allowed chipped and scuffed areas both in and outside of the car and damage in the boot from my powerchair and even a huge dint in the side (they were aware of this). The £250 was most unexpected!!

saving_pennies

sunnyone wrote: »

Your NHS wheelchairs are meant to last 5 years, its a long time with a tractor to drag about when there are so many options avaialble today.

I agree! So OP if you go down route of NHS wheelchair you need to ensure it meets your needs now plus any that are foreseen in next 5 years.

The £250 - what was that for? Was that the bonus for looking after the mobility car?

sunnyone

saving_pennies wrote: »

I agree! So OP if you go down route of NHS wheelchair you need to ensure it meets your needs now plus any that are foreseen in next 5 years.

The £250 - what was that for? Was that the bonus for looking after the mobility car?

Yes, it was a very unexpected surprise but they really do accept that wheelchairs/powerchairs will cause damage to cars, you just cant help it when you bash the sills getting in and out or catch the back of the seats when you put them in the boots.

The cheque came on the Thursday after the car went back, the garage only listed the dint on the damage report, RSA were aware of that and said I needent have it fixed it or put in an insurance claim because the dint wasnt throught the paint work but it was big 12"x 12".

Motability is no good for me know but its a great scheme, I have a Paravan now so I can drive from powerchair and they cosy £65K new, I cant afford that so I bought a nearly new one.