Wheelchair refusal

Brassedoff

Hi all,

Not really posted on here for a while as I was sick of the tribal "my illness is worse than your disability palarva.

I am looking at a bit advice. My OT who I still see everyweek as an inpatient has said I need to/or should start using a wheelchair now we both agree more than 10 metres is impossible (btw since I have not been posting I have had cause to be taken in twice to A&E, once following a fall in TESCO's Car park, the next in a nice yellow helicopter following another fall). The local wheelchair service have refused the application that the OT put in on the basis that it could only be used in doors, but my house being a normal house with stairs etc would mean I would not use it all the time.

I find it strange as I do not want it for indoor use. I use my crutches. But I would dearly love the independence to go into the town centre, or TESCO Extra, or a coffee with friends on a Saturday. Due to this discision I am trapped mostof the week in my home (apart from hospital on Tues/Thurs and the doctors on Wed.

Is there anything I can do? I don't want to go down the hiring route.

Secondly, I have been discharged by my neurosurgeon at the hospital I was operated in(the one where they crippled me), saying my condition is now chronic. Can anyone explain the exact term on chronic (s2-t11 bi-lateral discectomy with duel coflex inserts either side, dural tear which in the process of repairing "roughly handled the nerves causing permanent compression in a 75mm section, drop foot, over active nerve ends in ankle, permanent sciatic firing in buttocks, rear thigh and calf, plus facet problems caused by the gait it caused when walking. This results in the carrier back of drugs per day) in this instance?

I have been refered to a professor in pain management in Birmingham and I am going to be the sixth person with a new brain and nerve "bypass machine" fittedinto my stomach and connected to my nerves. I have also asked for a 2nd opinion with a different neurosurgeon at a different hospital.

What should I now ask of him?

What are wheelchair options?

What exactally is Chronic? (no, I am not thick, but want to know from people with experience in this sort of thing).

Thanks in advance for you help.

.

Humphrey10

chronic = not acute
chronic = long term, maybe permanent.
acute = short term.

But I guess you already knew that, and wanted something more specific, I can't help you with that, sorry.

Did the OT specify that you only wanted to use the wheelchair indoors ? What does the OT say about the refusal?

Manual or electric? Manual ones aren't that expensive, I know someone who bought one earlier in the year, in his case it wasn't a self-propelled one but the shop had self propelled ones for a similar price. But it sounds like you need one so shouldn't have to pay.

If the hospital has harmed you, I assume you are suing, I just wanted to say good luck - they should not be allowed to get away with such things.

Brassedoff

Thanks for that. Yep, I know the difference in the wording, but just need(ed) someone else to clarify it.

The OT said sorry, she should have known. I cannot understand, why the he'll would they think I would only use it outside? I just want out of the house, to be able to get out of the car and go shopping (yes a man saying that, it is unreal). I do not want an eBay one. I want one I beleive I am entitled to.

I never considered suing. I accepted the accident. I have them banged to rights. My medical record says "due to surgical error during the proceedure", I have witnesses to the Consultant saying sorry for his mistake. I have confirmation from my GP & OT that the records they have seen said error, but I never thought once about suing. Taking money off the NHS only stops someone else from getting that op, getting that wheelchair, but if I am going to get this sort of treatment I suppose I will have to hunt for a good medical negligence solicitor willing to work pro-Bono.

I am seeing my local MP (Tory) on Friday with all my case. I cannot see it going far with him.

All I want is to be able to get out, see Christmas light, buy the wife a card and present that I picked and not my daughter. The situation is so depressing.:mad:

paddedjohn

Brassedoff wrote: »

Thanks for that. Yep, I know the difference in the wording, but just need(ed) someone else to clarify it.

The OT said sorry, she should have known. I cannot understand, why the he'll would they think I would only use it outside? I just want out of the house, to be able to get out of the car and go shopping (yes a man saying that, it is unreal). I do not want an eBay one. I want one I beleive I am entitled to.

I never considered suing. I accepted the accident. I have them banged to rights. My medical record says "due to surgical error during the proceedure", I have witnesses to the Consultant saying sorry for his mistake. I have confirmation from my GP & OT that the records they have seen said error, but I never thought once about suing. Taking money off the NHS only stops someone else from getting that op, getting that wheelchair, but if I am going to get this sort of treatment I suppose I will have to hunt for a good medical negligence solicitor willing to work pro-Bono.

I am seeing my local MP (Tory) on Friday with all my case. I cannot see it going far with him.

All I want is to be able to get out, see Christmas light, buy the wife a card and present that I picked and not my daughter. The situation is so depressing.:mad:

The NHS is insured against these co*k-ups so noone should lose out if you claim compensation. You are lucky they have admitted liability, it took me nearly 3 years for them to admit their mistake when an incompetent surgoen killed my ex wife leaving 2 girls without a mum, finally settled out of court and the surgeon still works in the same hospital:mad:

Brassedoff

I know these thinhgs happen. In your case I am sorry for your loss.

Is it against board rules to ask if anyone knows or can recommend a firm.

I would also still know where I stand on the wheelchair?

paddedjohn

Dont go standing on a wheelchair, they're not designed for that;)

saving_pennies

Hi Brassed-off,

I am confused - did the wheelchair service say they would only give you a wheelchair if you only used it indoors? This seems strange. My local wheelchair service only gives electric wheelchairs if the person needs to use it indoors and outdoors (they will not give it just for indoors or just for outdoors), however they do give manual wheelchairs to those who need to use wheelchair for part of the time (and all the time, of course!).

It is possible to appeal the wheelchair decision. I did - my situation was different as I needed an electric wheelchair as I couldn't self-propel and the wheelchair service only gave me a manual wheelchair. To appeal, I asked for a copy of their criteria and wrote a response stating how I met each of their criteria. As my local wheelchair service was not responding to my letters or phone calls I involved the local MP. I never met the MP but his secretary was useful in making calls to chase up the lack of response. Once the service/hospital knew the MP was involved they did take me more seriously and did respond.

It took about 4 months from beginning to appeal to getting the chair I desperately needed. Obviously this is some time especially as those needing a wheelchair will have limited mobility and be in need of help getting around. In the meantime you could approach your local red cross who can loan you a wheelchair on a short term basis (can be months) as long as you have a letter from your GP/OT stating you have medical need for a wheelchair.

If you have no luck with the wheelchair service, and do need financial help, there are some charities such as the ACT foundation who will help. http://www.theactfoundation.co.uk/

As for sueing the hopital, I have no experience of this so can't offer much. Other than, it may be worth calling a few solictors (do a google search for solictors and medical errors) and asking their advice. I recently had to call solictors regarding another issue and the ones I called gave me 5-10 minutes of their time to tell me whether it was something they could help with and one even offered very good guidance/advice for free.

Keep us posted. I really hope this can be resolved quickly for you.

sunnyone

Im really surprised you were refused a NHS wheelchair, most people in your situation (I was in a similar way many years ago) get their first wheelchair for outdoor use only, your right to expect a NHS manual wheelchair that is fitted for your and and you really must have a suitable cushion too, a special anatomical cushion really helps me with my fluffed sciatic nerves, not a cure but it really helps the pain when sitting which helped me make the transition from crutches to wheelchair.

I would see your GP and ask for another wheelchair referal, thats the route many people take so you might be more successful with that route.

You can buy a manual wheelchair for under £70 but they are basic and a standard size (your tall arnt you?) and a decent cushion cost much more, my latest ones are a £500 cushions and the NHS have no problem supplying these for both my NHS wheelchairs (manual and powerchair)

Fight for the wheelchair, you need one and you need one now before a fall causes you more damage, I had the wheelchair but I refused to use it and I had many falls and last one broke bones causeing me even more longterm problems.

Chorlie

Sound like your OT is as poor at there job as the Consultant.

First get legal advice about suing the NHS, you have your whole life ahead of you and you might have to live it the way you are now, so sue and do it soon; there is a time limit which it has to be done within.

As for the chair, you can buy a cheap one, but they weigh a lot and are hard to push. You also have to consider getting in and out of cars etc, but if you're not used to pushing one and depending on your upper body strength an Electric Chair may be better for your needs, but this is the job of your OT to consider which is best for your needs.

Can your OT write to the Wheelchair Unit and explain why you need one, that they didn't explain your need fully the first time (make it clear it's their OT error) and therefore they need to reconsider.

Brassedoff

Chorlie & Sunnyone, thanks for your replies.

I was told by the Wheelchair Services unit in a letter, that following an assessment (did not have to see anyone), "you do not meet our current Criteria for a provision of a wheelchair".

Being honest with them, I said my house is not adapted, although only a few years old is DDA compliant, wide doors, downstairs toilet, ramped entrance etc. I need it in the even of going more than around 10 metres. For example, I am not seen what my local city centre looks like since 2007. Or even been able to go out with the family in the event like those summer fireworks & music parties. I simply am stuck, in a lot of pain if I need to walk further than around 10 metres. I have the elbow crutches, but in the past few months if I walk too far, I find I get the feeling of needles in the sole of my foot (can only feel one). What put me out was their next sentence, "for your information we have enclosed a copy of local suppliers where wheelchairs can be purchased as in your case you say you have difficulty in mobilising".

I am unable to lift anything heavy, so need something relatively light weight to move it in and out the car. I know I will need a cushion and they can be expensive, so the local NHS is really the only option I have.

saving_pennies

Brassedoff wrote: »

I was told by the Wheelchair Services unit in a letter, that following an assessment (did not have to see anyone), "you do not meet our current Criteria for a provision of a wheelchair".

It is shocking how they can decide you don't met their criteria without even meeting you. This probably means the right boxes were not ticked and had the referral been worded differently then maybe they might have met you.

I personally would get back to them, ask for a written copy of their current criteria and use this to explain in full how you meet them.

Re: weight of wheelchair. My NHS manual wheelchair is about 18kg which they classed as lightweight and it may be in comparison to other chairs but is still not lightweight for me. I can't even fold it as it is too heavy for me and my carer struggled to fold it and put it in the car. I did buy a very light weight one (9kg) for use outside as it is easy for others to lift in and out the car. But as sunnyone said, it is important to have an assessment - if the chair is not adjusted for you then you may have problems arising from poor posture etc.

If you have a motability car then you can ask for adaptation which lifts the chair into the car for you.