Wheelchair recommendations

[SummerInTheVillage]

I have friend who is very ill and unable to walk far. Her husband bought a wheelchair for her so they could still have some time out in the country.

I went with them to a National Trust place this morning and it was hopeless. The chair just wouldn't move on the gravel paths without constant stopping and starting. We nearly tipped her out once.

In the end we had to drag it backwards which was no fun for any of us.

Does anyone have a wheelchair that actually runs on gravel they could recommend?

We had the same problem recently. If your friend is unwell she needs a safe comfortable chair. Would the hospital physio or o.t. department measure it for her and supply one. If not I would go to a specialist mobility shop and have them assess it. They can be pretty expensive.

A lot of NT places have decent scooters you can borrow. May be easier?

Wheelchairs that will do “off road” stuff are very expensive generally. Ds has one and it was £700 and that’s the cheaper end of the spectrum.

Thanks for the replies.

Cost isn't an issue, her husband wants her to get as much of a life as she can. There's quite a waiting list for assessment for aids that aren't straight forward. He had a stair lift fitted last week rather than wait for the months it would take.

The chair they have is fine for the supermarket and around the village but their joy is parks and gardens. I'll check out which ones do hire out competent wheelchairs.

www.delichon.uk/ I know they do chairs which go up up adult size.

EPC wheelchairs are based Farnborough and cornwall
RGK wheelchairs also highly recommended

Im a full time wheelchair user

You need a specialist who will measure her up and take the time to find a chair suited to her needs.

Get a freewheel and some off-road wheelchair tyres (mountain bike ones are half the price and do the same job!). You'll have to check her chair as freewheels only fit certain chairs but if you contact the company they are surprisingly helpful

I should use my chair more than I do, however the combination of freewheel plus bike tyres has coped with some seriously muddy forest walks. However, it's not much fun being pushed over rough ground in a wheelchair though. You NEED a waist belt/harness if you plan on staying in the chair!

If your friends husband has a lot of money though and they want something that's virtually indestructible have a look at Mountain Trikes, especially the Mountain Trike push if she can't push herself. They do look a bit odd, however they go over anything and as they have proper suspension it doesnt feel like youre going to be shaken out of the thing. I've hired one before and if I could afford the price tag I would buy one.

Thanks, everyone, some useful advice for me to pass on.

I’m an OT. Don’t suggest she tries going through a hospital OT/physio or NHS wheelchair service. If they supply wheelchairs just for getting out and about at all (many services don’t - you have to be a permanent indoor and outdoor wheelchair user to get one from some services) it will only be a very basic model for getting around shops, tarmac, flat surfaces etc. Off-road would have to be privately purchased. I can only suggest a good Google!

Some national trust places hire out MT push wheelchairs now- if you Google it you can find out which ones offer the service.

You do need to pre book them though.