New wheelchair is unstable

michele-p

Hi All, thanks for the replies so far. To clarify, my mum is the pusher, we knew it wasn't self propelled chair. Dad had been issued with a "light weight" wheel chair from his physio, but struggled to lift it on the car even with help from mum. So we looked to buy a chair ourselves, and this one looker the part.

I'm a sensible 40 year old, pushed dad in it last week, and it very nearly tipped him out on a "normal" path from a cafe to the disabled bay in the car park.

I'm not looking for money off this chair. I had hoped to be able to return it for one which is more suited, but still light and pay the extra, but this one to me feels unsafe and more likely to cause an accident.

They already waited months for the last chair from physio, so looked to buy their own to get him out and about as his mobility has seriously gone down hill very quickly. Ultimately he will need an electric scooter and winch, but we were hoping to get him used to the idea with a chair first. He's very worried about going in it now though after feeling he was about to be tipped out.

unholyangel

austonic wrote: »

Given it was clearly sold as a lightweight wheelchair, you are not in a position to claim that it is not fit for purpose etc UNLESS you specifically described your intended use and expectations and the supplier confirmed it would be suitable.

In the former case, if they are offering you an upgrade for the original difference in price, then I think they are doing you a favour.

In the latter case, return the goods and get a refund in full and buy something else - after checking with a therapist!

I'm afraid that's incorrect.

While goods do need to be fit for a particular purpose if that purpose is known by the retailer (whether express or implied by the consumer) even if its a purpose goods of that type aren't commonly supplied for, the goods still need to be fit for the purpose they are commonly supplied for also. People generally use wheelchairs to get about and visit places they would not otherwise be able to so OPs described use is (imo) a purpose they're commonly supplied for.

It also says its suitable for indoors & outdoors so should be capable of traversing small bumps - assuming it is down to the chair and not user error.

austonic

Yes. Apologies. If it clearly doesn't meet the basic usage criteria, then it isn't fit for purpose. can't imagine they'd be in business for long if that is the case.

michele-p

I'm very concerned about them using it again to be honest, my husband also felt vet uneasy when he wheeled dad down the drive last week. It's a fantastic design, but just doesn't feel sturdy enough. He's within the weight range.

Sam_Fallow

The one I suggested earlier has larger wheels and should be a bigger frame offering more stability. The one I push also has pneumatic rear tyres (instead of solids) for more comfort. After 5 years of pushing, no mishaps even going round country parks.

Plenty on ebay...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wheeltech-Enigma-Transit-Wheelchair-Pneumatic-tyres-Alleve-padded-cushion-/272500939361?hash=item3f72525a61:g:MBsAAOSw5cNYY7yc

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Roma-Folding-Wheelchair-/252705506100?hash=item3ad66c0334:g:MSEAAOSw5cNYaSGR

michele-p

Thanks for the ebay links, I'll certainly show him these. I'll also look into how small it folds up and the weight to lift it. 2nd hand might soften the blow of needing to buy another chair straight away!

neilmcl

michele-p wrote: »

Thanks for the ebay links, I'll certainly show him these. I'll also look into how small it folds up and the weight to lift it. 2nd hand might soften the blow of needing to buy another chair straight away!

Would it not be worth going to a disability centre to try some out first? Can he not get any help with the purchase?

michele-p

Hi, it's a bit tricky as they live in Northumberland, I'm in Norwich, and he is very reluctant! They had looked at a 2nd hand place before ordering this one, but none were light enough/small enough to fit the car easily. I'll maybe do some looking here first for him.

GlasweJen

I'm a wheelchair user, I use self propelling wheelchairs but started out with attendant chairs.

The lighter weight of the chair the worse it will be over bumps, the large wheels on a self propelling chair cancel this out but light weight attendant chairs are generally pretty poor and that's probably why the NHS one wasn't particularly light.

There are things you can try like using the NHS one but instead of lifting the chair into the boot fold it and put it on the back seat of the car (well in the back foot well). That should be less lifting so a bit more manageable.

Some wheelchairs have removable wheels so upgrading the wheels might help if your chair can do that, just checks that the wheels are compatible.

If the frames are the same size you could try putting your dad's NHS wheelchair cushion onto the new chair to add a bit of weight. This will also make the chair more comfortable as wheelchairs aren't comfy without a good wheelchair cushion, it's like being pushed about on a deck chair, you feel every slight bump.

Mobility shops are good as are disabled road shows which usually let you try products out before you buy them.

knightstyle

Can you/they get to any of these? http://www.musculardystrophyuk.org/talkmd/topic/dates-of-roadshows-and-exhibitions-20162017/
Latest wheelchairs for hands on demonstrations. Plus it may be worth changing their car, we went from a Juke to a Cmax partly to make life easier with a wheelchair.