Manual Wheelchair

Danni

I agree that getting a wheelchair assessment (starting with your GP) is a good idea.

On your original question, I bought my first wheelchair from Betterlife Healthcare, and it was fine. It arrived quickly and suited my needs at the time. I did have to replace it after a while though as the one I bought was for occasional use and I got worse, but it's still upstairs as my spare.

sunnyone

NHS wheelchair services will provide a much better, more suitable manual chair than you can get by picking one from a catalogue IMHO, your GP will send the wheelchair services a form to refer you.

Do you need it to recline to alter where the pressure is?

Do you need accessories to make life easier such as a tray, head or neck brace etc.?

Seat widths are 18" standard but that dosnt suit many people, my wheelchair services chairs are both 16", you can get both manual nd powerchair at the same time on the NHS.

The cushion you get assessed for are also better prescribed than us choosing our own and I would never pay the £500 mine costs for a cushion just hoping it was the right one for me.

Our disability help center is called the DSC, the disabled services center.

Anubis_2

Thank you Sunny - yes a reclining one would be good. The Gel cushion though old is fine, it cost me £150 8 years ago ( or might be longer ) but if they assess what cushion would be best, then that is good.

I would love to have the freedom of an electric wheelchair but I am not really capable of using one and not getting out I have totally lost my confidence. I will ask my Doctor and hopefully he will help as if they are much better as you say then it makes sense.

sunnyone

I honestly think wheelchair services would be the best route for you, I was amazed at how good they are and just how many diffrent chairs/cushion/accessries they can provide and the service I get is second to none, no private service could ever come close.

If you want to try a powerchair again tell them, they wont provide one until you prove you are capaerble of using it safely and that might give you the confidence to use one again.

I didnt answer the waiting list part of your post, I wait as long as it takes for the suppliers to fill the order and I ahve never waited more than six weeks for a new wheelchair but that varies around the country Ive been told.

Anubis_2

Only just managed to get the assessment done yesterday as been very poorly. However, I am unsure how it will go.

Firstly, there is a two and a half year waiting list for powered chairs in my area due to budget/list f others waiting. Given my current situation, the assessor ( who was extremely nice) recommended vouchers which can be used towards the cost of a powered chair.

However, I was supposed to see a consultant at the assessment centre due to vision issues and neuritis, which unfortunately affects both eyes (I am currently under an eye specialist and due to see my neurologist at the end of Dec, and eye specialist again in Jan)

The assessor explained that as the consultant was not available yesterday ( was meant to be but is off due to him being out the country unexpectedly) he still either has to see me, or write to my specialist/ doctor to get a full medical report on my eyes, as they have to be assessed for a powered chair because of my conditions affecting them causing poor vision, and its possible he may not recommend/pass me for one if my he fails my vision. We explained there will always be someone
with me out in the chair but they said their consultant still as to do an assessment/ report

Secondly, my home has to be assessed. I think my home will not pass. Apparently the chairs have to be kept indoirs when not in use. We explained we have a metal store outside which was bought for the purpose of storing my previous chairs/ scooters, but they said it really has to be indoors.

As it is being assessed for accessibility for getting indoors after we explained it will not be used indoors due to lack of room and that I am confined in my room a lot partly because of no stairlift, he said it still has to be assessed.

A ramp was built by my husband many years ago at the back yard as front access is not really
possible. This is fine if the chair is stored in metal store as ramo leads directly to and from it However due to the kitchen extension causing a lack of space, a powered wheelchair can not be driven from the ramp and around the corner of the extension to the kitchen door - well it may do at a push, but it is then turning into the kitchen door.

The kitchen is very small - two double base units and a cooker and washer fill it, so there is no floor manuverability once inside, and the through gap ( where a door should be but a door is not there as it is not standard door width, but quite a bit smaller, so a door has never been on) is not wide enough to fit a wheelchair through - only if it is folded will it fit.

So, I am ubsure how this is going to go. They said there is no issue with giving me vouchers for a manual chair as I cannot self propell so my eyes are not an issue - so I will be getting vouchers either way, but I may not be able to use them for a powered chair. It is all dependant on what their cobsultant states and what the guy states who is doung the home assessment.

They have also recommended I get an OT and should stop muddling through as we have been doing. He explained I will be entitled to one without a doubt and they can help with things.

They have recommended a cushion and it is about 12 inches thick - mine looked miserable compared and oh....how comfy it felt! I am not allowed it though until we get a chair so I have to wait. The nurse was sorry to take it back off me as they let me use it while there ( and I was sorry too!)

It is good to know I will be getting the vouchers but I am worried about the possibility of failure to get a powered chair due to my eyes and perhaps home, but he said the home modifications can be sorted with LandLord approval, although I am not allowed the voychers until any modifications are in place.

So, I am not too worried on the hoyse front, just the vision front. I should have known there might be an issue with vision but it didn't cross my mind. While hoping I get the go ahead, I am grateful that at the very least, I will be able to get a manual if it comes down to it.

They also said some of the voucher money is used for servicing or something, and the total amount of voychers is £402.00 but that some of that needs to go towards servicing.

It beats waiting 2 and a half years though, and luckily I don't have to wait until April when they get their new budget as the application was put in before so was allocated from their previous budget.

Not sure hiw long the home visit takes but would imagine it is going to be after Christmas now and they are going to suggest the consultant writes to my specialist to avoid me having to travel back for now as they could see my difficulties and also it will be faster they said.

Keeping my fingers crossed for vision to ve passed and home assessment as painless as possible. Will think about seeking out OT after Christmas. Thanks for everyone who contributed to this thread, and I also thank those who have sent me PMs in the last few months. I haven't been around due to health and unlikely to be around much for a while.

Anubis_2

Have another appointment at the hospital wheelchair assessment centre tomorrow. Had to cancel the last two due to poor health.

Not sure what it is related to ATM, possibly to see their specialist (after getting the VEP and eye results) I am assuming he wants to see me in person but could be wrong.

Apparently the North has one of the longest waiting lists with a 2 year average. Typical here, since we have some of the poorest performing NHS hospitals too.

It does seem a postcode lottery though, places just a few miles apart can have a massive 12 month waiting list difference. :eek:

Keeping my fingers crossed for tomorrow! :T

Anubis_2

The consultant has finally said YES to using the vouchers for electric chair, however, He will only allow a dual powered chair as he expressed his concerns over safety and wants my carer to have control when needed. I am so happy!!!!

He says I may have to go the waiting list route though as vouchers may not cover dual control. So if I have to wait I have to wait a couple of years but he says he will try and sort it out faster if the powers that be allow, so I may not have to wait so long, so keeping my fingers crossed

sunnyone

Anubis wrote: »

The consultant has finally said YES to using the vouchers for electric chair, however, He will only allow a dual powered chair as he expressed his concerns over safety and wants my carer to have control when needed. I am so happy!!!!

He says I may have to go the waiting list route though as vouchers may not cover dual control. So if I have to wait I have to wait a couple of years but he says he will try and sort it out faster if the powers that be allow, so I may not have to wait so long, so keeping my fingers crossed

Its good news they have accepted you need an electric but I thought you had unsuitable housing for an electric?

Here and in many other areas you cant get the electric wheelchair if you have unsuitable housing and the last part of the three part assessment is a home visit to make sure you can use the chair indoors.

Thats a long waiting list, I have never had to go on any waiting lists, I was told there are bandings according to need and the highest band got the chairs first and that im in the highest banding so my chairs are ordered as soon as ive chosen than and I get them pretty quickly, maybe you can ask if its the same where you live?

You never know you might be able to speed things up, I live in the NE of England and all the health autorities here band together for electric wheelchair supplying, I was very surprised when my last electric was delivered and it had a Newcastle PCT NHS lable on it when I was assessed at the James Cook in Middlesborough.

Have they assessed you for a manual chair as well?

Its NHS policy to provide on as a spare or for situations where an electric is unsuitable, I use my NHS manual chair upstairs as it fits better and in any one day when Im well enough to go out I use three wheelchairs per day, on upstairs, one powerchair downstairs and my out door powerchair is kept in my WAV.

Have you thought about how you will transport the electric?

I used a ramp in my Citroen but it soon became apparent that i needed a WAV, I bought my Paravan last year so i could get some independance.

Congratulations on passing the assessment for a powerchair, its not easy thing to get on the NHS.

Anubis_2

Hi Sunyone, I am still waiting for the house assessment, as far as the consultant is concerned he will allow one from a safety aspect point of view. I am fully expecting that I may and probably will fail on house assessment but it is not down to my thoughts, however they know the wheelchair will NOT be used indoors. ETA: this is only from my point of view, given that the access to kitchen is not standard size it is small, and front access has a step even though back has built in ramp. The OT did state at the time as it is not going to be used indoors as long as we have ramp access to get it indoors it might be alright but also said it is not up to him, so will just have to wait. The ramp access will have to be front though and we have some front door ramps.

They don't work as far as giving wheelchairs like your centre does as their budget is very limited, while they follow standard regs, each centre is then responsible for who gets what and where, plus area budget has a vast effect, hence why it is a postcode lottery.

Apologies I am North West not East (I aleays get it weong) I can assure you there is a minimum of a two half year waiting list for my area, no matter how in need you are, unless you are in hospital at the time as an amputee for example.

I found this which states the North West has the worst record. (I am west sorry not east) This is from 2009 and their budget has been cut since then. You can ring the Preston centre up to confirm if you wish

"The North West contains the country’s worst performing PCT with an average waiting time of 2 years for a powered wheelchair."

http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/assets/0000/6665/Equipment_shortfall_-_How_Disabled_Children_Are_Being_Failed.pdf

As I said, the North West is bad for anything and it is a postcode lottery. There are probably several articles out there showing waiting times.... One disabled child with muscular dystrophy had a Four year wait.

All areas are different. I am just hoping for the house pass now, as I said no one has been yet but their consultant is happy. They never mentioned a manual chair as a backup, and they know my chair will not be used indoors as I am upstairs all the time in a bedroom that is 10ft x 12 ft, no room for a chair - but to be honest, I can use the one I am borrowing as and when for now and buy my own cheap backup from Argos. However I will ask them if it is policy to supply me with a manual also and ask if they will be doing also .

I am just waiting for the house assessment and they know it won't be used in the house, but stipulate it must be stored in the house, we cannot use our metal outhouse to store - that point they were very strong on.

Thanks for the congrats, there was no issue with them giving me vouchers, they told me that after assessing me, but the main issue was one of safety as a power wheelchair had been applied for. Not sure when they will come to the houseinane in our excitement I did not ask the consultant yesterday as we had already been waiting two hours to see him, so was not in a good way by the time he saw me, although to be fair, the consultant would probably not be able to give me a date as wheelchair services did not have a clinic yesterday, I was there this time to see their consultant.

sunnyone

Anubis wrote: »

Hi Sunyone, I am still waiting for the house assessment, as far as the consultant is concerned he will allow one from a safety aspect point of view. I am fully expecting that I may and probably will fail on house assessment but it is not down to my thoughts, however they know the wheelchair will NOT be used indoors. ETA: this is only from my point of view, given that the access to kitchen is not standard size it is small, and front access has a step even though back has built in ramp. The OT did state at the time as it is not going to be used indoors as long as we have ramp access to get it indoors it might be alright but also said it is not up to him, so will just have to wait. The ramp access will have to be front though and we have some front door ramps.

They don't work as far as giving wheelchairs like your centre does as their budget is very limited, while they follow standard regs, each centre is then responsible for who gets what and where, plus area budget has a vast effect, hence why it is a postcode lottery.

Apologies I am North West not East (I aleays get it weong) I can assure you there is a minimum of a two half year waiting list for my area, no matter how in need you are, unless you are in hospital at the time as an amputee for example.

I found this which states the North West has the worst record. (I am west sorry not east) This is from 2009 and their budget has been cut since then. You can ring the Preston centre up to confirm if you wish

"The North West contains the country’s worst performing PCT with an average waiting time of 2 years for a powered wheelchair."

http://www.muscular-dystrophy.org/assets/0000/6665/Equipment_shortfall_-_How_Disabled_Children_Are_Being_Failed.pdf

As I said, the North West is bad for anything and it is a postcode lottery. There are probably several articles out there showing waiting times.... One disabled child with muscular dystrophy had a Four year wait.

All areas are different. I am just hoping for the house pass now, as I said no one has been yet but their consultant is happy. They never mentioned a manual chair as a backup, and they know my chair will not be used indoors as I am upstairs all the time in a bedroom that is 10ft x 12 ft, no room for a chair - but to be honest, I can use the one I am borrowing as and when for now and buy my own cheap backup from Argos. However I will ask them if it is policy to supply me with a manual also and ask if they will be doing also .

I am just waiting for the house assessment and they know it won't be used in the house, but stipulate it must be stored in the house, we cannot use our metal outhouse to store - that point they were very strong on.

Thanks for the congrats, there was no issue with them giving me vouchers, they told me that after assessing me, but the main issue was one of safety as a power wheelchair had been applied for. Not sure when they will come to the houseinane in our excitement I did not ask the consultant yesterday as we had already been waiting two hours to see him, so was not in a good way by the time he saw me, although to be fair, the consultant would probably not be able to give me a date as wheelchair services did not have a clinic yesterday, I was there this time to see their consultant.

The waiting time you face is a disgrace, you get assessed for a powerchair because you need one, not because you want one, its even hard to get assessed for one so making you wait 2 1/2 years after the long assessment is wrong, just plain wrong.

A better manual shouldnt take as long surely?

I mentioned recliner earlier in the thread and you said it would help you, that is just one of the things they can prescribe you that would make the wait easier for you so i would ask about a manual ASAP. You probably need a new cushion two as they dont support you as well after a few years and they cost a fortune, mine are £500 each :eek:.

I would always take the chair rather than vouchers, then the only thing you pay for is the insurance as the servicing is a couple of hundred a year at least and the parts costs a fortune, i had new motors put on mine last year and I hate to think what they cost and each service there is always something needs doing.

can SS ramp the front of the house (I know you rent so the land lord must be consulted)? Or would portables do?

I had the two of the doors to our house ramped when we moved in, I could have waited for SS but I needed them doing straight away and they do it when they feel like it!