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Wheelchairs

This is the 3rd attempt to post a message. I keep getting pop ups from Scope that eradicates previous attempts, perhaps this is because I am a newbie?.
I will not go into the full detail I have experienced with the local NHS Wheelchair Service Provider but I am at last after 9 months from referral to be given a wheelchair that is claimed to be suitable for my needs. During this period I have managed with loaned or hired chairs and learnt the very basic of skills for my self to be almost independent. I now wish to become skilled enough to mount curbs and similar skills and the only contact I have been given by the service provider is a personal trainer living over 60 miles away and the cost of the course with travel is prohibitive.
I note that several hospitals which specialise in spinal injury run courses on wheelchair skills but nothing in East Sussex. Does any one know of any courses in this area please.
Eric
I will not go into the full detail I have experienced with the local NHS Wheelchair Service Provider but I am at last after 9 months from referral to be given a wheelchair that is claimed to be suitable for my needs. During this period I have managed with loaned or hired chairs and learnt the very basic of skills for my self to be almost independent. I now wish to become skilled enough to mount curbs and similar skills and the only contact I have been given by the service provider is a personal trainer living over 60 miles away and the cost of the course with travel is prohibitive.
I note that several hospitals which specialise in spinal injury run courses on wheelchair skills but nothing in East Sussex. Does any one know of any courses in this area please.
Eric
Replies
You wait for a wheelchair then the fools dont teach you how to use it
May i suggest you look on line for a local shop that sells scooters. Mobility shops will help people to use wheelchairs as well as scooters.
Also get someone to go with you to a road where you can practise going up and down gutters. I say take someone with uou cos my freinds wheelchair tipped over while she was trying the up & down gutters. You may not beable to pick it up on your own
8f you go onto the motability page they have links to services who can do that for you. Good luck
Specialist Information Officer - Cerebral Palsy
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The model set by the NHS for NHS service providers appears to include having on the providers premises curbs, ramps etc for basic instruction, as well as many other ideals like supplying a wheelchair suitable to the needs of the user. Unfortunately the money used in debates etc and production of this model is an absolute waste, the model has no bite due to the addition of the words NON MANDATORY, and passes the responsibility of the service on to CCG,s who in turn contracts commercial firms to supply the final service. The prime objective of these private companies is to make a profit, the model set by the NHS is secondary. Hence in this area there are no training courses and one is lucky to obtain a NHS chair suitable for ones needs. Wheelchair services are a post code lottery.
Sorry to have gone on a bit, I will continue to look for a skills course in East Sussex..
Scope
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Over the past 20 years I have had a myriad of wheelchairs. Some I bought new, some 2nd hand. Some on the NHS. Some damaged me...therefore I would always urge an assessment by a trained wheelchair therapist. Now I realise this means only using NHS staff, which usually entails a very long wait. But it is worth it. If you can muddle along with a chair till then, then do.
I got a previous chair from a dealer with Motability. The arm foam was crap and as soon as I went near anything which put a little pressure on the arm, it shredded! I had a few replaced. But it did have a great feature...a kerb climber! This prevented me having to look for a dropped kerb...which are lacking in a lot of places.
My current chair is from Wheelchair Services. I got it within 3 months of asking, as when my Motability lease was up I was left with no chair. I`d paid 4k out and thought I could keep the chair. How wrong was I?
So this wheelchair malarkey is full of potholes...be careful you dont find yourself in one!