Needing a comfortable manual wheelchair.

CathWales

Hi, first time posting in this section and hope I am in the right place.

I feel at the end of my tether tonight, maybe this post is part rant too, but I have Spina Bifida and have always used a manual wheelchair. About 11 years ago I applied for and was lucky to be eligible for an electric wheelchair too, The electric wheelchair tho I can only use outdoors as cannot function day to day tasks in electric chair (most transfers etc) and I use my manual chair at all other times. Forward 10 years to 2009 and the manual chair (a Quickie GPV) backrest began to be uncomfortable and I felt the chair was no longer comfy for me. I contacted an O/T who came to visit and in conversation I mentioned the electric chairs use and she told me that having one (of which she was unaware of as it wasn't in my notes (even tho she was from the same place that issues both chairs) meant I would be limited to the type of chairs I would be offered. Anyway, moving on between 2009 and now I have had 2 manual wheelchairs sent to me, the first of which had a cushion I did not want and could not get on with. plus was quite uncomfy and the one I have now which is even worse, with screws that poke into my skin, and backrest, the canvas of which is loose and also collapses at the slightest pressure, which has happened ever since I had this chair. I rang the original O/T who said she would arrange for me to be re-asessed by a new O/T but again the same situation re me having an electric chair arose, The last O/T I saw is now on maternity leave and the many engineers who, through no fault of their own, keep being issued with the wrong backrests that don't fit. So my question is, if I need to look into the possibility of buying a new active chair where are the reputable companies that won't rip me off by charging the earth and will supply a reliable, comfy, wheelchair? I do plan to ring the O/T in the morning as well and try and explain things again, but I feel I am getting nowhere with her and just feel really depressed right now. Thanks if you read this and thanks for any replies. Sorry for moaning on, I do know I have been lucky in having both chairs.

Chorlie

I also have Spina Bifida and have several different manual chairs (Quickie, RGK, Cyclone, and now a TiLite) and back comfort is becoming more of an issue for me with each chair and the back height increases with each chair....lol

What you need to decide first is your budget, how much you can afford to pay for the chair and then if you want a ridged frame chair like your GPV or a folding chair (which will weight more).

If you know the chair you want you can hunt for the cheapest price, but I guess you're like the most of us and aren't sure what's out there and you also want to try a few.

I'm lucky since I have a good friend who sells chairs and he's worked with disabled people all his adult life so knows what's needed, but you need to find someone local to you who can spend sometime with you and bring you several chair to try. Where in the country are you (Wales I'm guessing, but North or South).

CathWales

Thanks very much for your reply Chorlie:) I am in South Wales, about 30 mins from Cardiff. As I don't know what the chairs cos (tho did a little search and clicked on one mobility site where the sportier chairs were nearly £2k) I don't know exactly what I am looking for, tho the sportier types are not only more modern, but also seem better made and easier to propel, as well as having the comfort I am craving for my back. The height of the backrest isn't so much of an issue as the paddidness (is that a word?) of it and the width, tho I personally don't like the lower backs as they don't look like they'd offer much protection if a chair were to fall back. If you don't mind me asking, are all the chairs you have ones that you have bought, or have you been provided with them? I phoned the first O/T I was put in touch with again this morning and updated her with everything I have written in my post here and she re-iterated that they don't normally issue both a manual and power chair to one person. She said she was going to order another backrest and put me through to the engineering dept and an engineer is due out on Tuesday to repair the 'folding at the slightest touch' pile of carp I am currently using. If anyone has any info of good, reputable companies in the South Wales area please could they post them here. Thanks in advance.

Chorlie

All the chairs I have I've bought (I did have an NHS Voucher for £650 for one of them).

They have ranged in price from £1200 to £3500, but you need to be expecting to spend around £1500, but more if you want very light weight and or extra on the chair it will easy be over £2000.

The few people I know with NHS supplied Electric Wheelchair only ever get a very basic NHS manual wheelchair, since they are expected to be using the Electric Chair.

There is a Wheelchair Tennis Club in Cardiff (down by the Bay), it might be an idea to contact them and even go down when they are training, have a look at there every day chairs, most will be using the type of chair you're looking for and they may know a local supplier.

I'll also PM you the details of the company my mate works for, they have sale man covering the whole of the country, but I don't think my mate covers South Wales, he's more Northern England.