Hi I'm alexrebelmam! I live with chronic illness, and recently got a wheelchair

alexrebelmam
alexrebelmam Community member Posts: 1 Listener
Hi I’m new here . I’ve been living with lifelong chronic illness all my life but 4 years ago had an accident which changed my mobility considerably. After struggling on crutches  for 4 years and becoming less mobile over the last year I decided it was time I got my freedom back and purchased a wheelchair ( I’ve been measured up and waiting 4 years on the Nhs and haven’t heard anything back ) . I am a single mother to a 7 and 3 year old . I live in South Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 

Comments

  • Tori_Scope
    Tori_Scope Scope Posts: 12,443 Championing
    Welcome to the community @alexrebelmam :) 

    Thank you for reaching out to us, and telling us about your current situation.

    Just so I'm clear, do you currently have access to a wheelchair? 
  • janer1967
    janer1967 Community member Posts: 21,922 Championing
    That is a ridiculous amount of time to wait for a wheelchair 

    My personal opinion of wheelchair services isn't good but your case is extreme 

    Have you chased it up with wheelchair services if not then you should your gp should also chase this up for you 

    Another avenue is to complain through the pals service 

    I'm in a wheelchair and mine was delivered within a week of being ordered by a hospital physio after my amputation 

    When it was due for a new one the problem started after waiting 12 months to even get a response and them messing me about (long story ) I decided to purchase my own so I didn't have to deal with them again 

    You can often get second hand ones from charity shops or British Red Cross or on ebay or gum tree 
  • elahrairah
    elahrairah Scope Member Posts: 48 Contributor
    Prynhawn da i de Cymru eto!  Apologies for the terrible Cymraeg, I'm learning.  I've not used a wheelchair myself but my partner did for a while and what we learned was that cheap wheelchairs are more trouble than they're worth, the Red Cross will lend you one if you ask (and deliver it), but it will be a very cheap wheelchair.  A motorised wheelchair or mobility scooter will be easier but more expensive.  Whichever you choose, people will be rude to you if you have the temerity to stand up and retrieve something from a shelf, because in some people's minds wheelchair users need to be paraplegic or they're faking!  Good luck :)
  • Sandy_123
    Sandy_123 Scope Member Posts: 56,745 Championing
    Hi @alexrebelmam that's awful you've waited so long, definitely take @janer1967 advice and I hope you soon get a chair.
  • littleacorn
    littleacorn Community member Posts: 383 Empowering
    Talk to your MP the wheelchair services will be rattled and move quickly to get you sorted out.