Wheelchairs - big or small wheels?

[runadun]

I’m looking into getting a wheelchair for my Dad, he isn’t able to come with me anywhere to ‘test’ one so I’m kind of winging it.

Can anyone advise on whether it would be better to get one with big or small rear wheel? I know the bigger wheels are for self propelling which he won’t be able to do, but I wonder if there is any actual difference in the ease of use for me?

Not sure if the link is working, it was a Days Escape Aluminium Wheelchair pre-loved from ebay.

@runadun - is it worth finding out if your dad can be referred for an NHS wheelchair? I recently got mine - I was referred by my physio who took some measurements and sent in the referral, then the company contacted me and delivered the chair just over a week ago.

I have been told that the NHS chairs can be heavier than the ones you can buy, but I assume that makes them more sturdy.

Mine has to have the wheels taken off, to go in the boot of our Skoda estate, but they are quick release, so it doesn’t seem too difficult.

You can hire them from mobility shops or borrow from Red Cross or NHS (the latter is likely to be a long wait for a very heavy one).

They come in different widths 16 of 18 inches IIRC and one which is the wrong width will definitely be uncomfortable.

Get the lightest proper fold-up you can afford and avoid so-called transit chairs. Small wheels are lighter.

Footrests can be fixed (advantage: can't get left in a taxi, but chair is bigger when folded) or removable.

I wouldn't get one without solid tyres. You don't want important stuff like a hospital visit messed-up by a puncture.

Some chairs are comfortable enough without a separate cushion. This reduces faff when you are trying to get off to an appointment quickly. See also fixed footrests above.

Edit to add: you could hire one at first, then use it to take your Dad up to the mobility shop to try a few. There might be a local charity or NHS department that will assess his needs and show you different ones that are suitable.

Your Dad should be entitled to a wheelchair free on the NHS, though there will probably be a waiting list.
As he is currently in hospital, has he seen an Occupational Therapist or had an OT home visit to provide equipment, such as grab rails or bath seat? If he is frail he may need other things as well as a wheelchair. The OT can make a referral for a NHS wheelchair.
You also need to consider your Dad's size. It's fine if he is average size, but if he is extra large or small, a standard chair may not fit.

And if he is heavy consider an assistant-operated powered chair.

When we had to travel for a funeral last year, I had to have a lot of assistance at various point - I used a big wheeled chair in the hotel when we broke the journey, and then was lent a small wheeled chair for the days around the funeral and all the to-ing and fro-ing involved, and dh definitely found the big wheeled chair easier to manoeuvre, and to push over uneven surfaces.

If it is just for occasional use and he won't ever push himself, then I'd get small wheels as it will be simpler to fold up and put in the car. Big wheels will need to be taken off and may be too big for the boot (depending on car). Small wheels will be slightly harder to push, but for occasional use I think ease of folding wins out.

Call me old fashioned but I've always preferred the look of a large wheeled one .
Friend of ours turned up at a restaurant the other day in one (small wheeled) and none of us could push it and was electric

Thanks, I’m going to ask re an NHS referral for a chair but I do think the timing isn’t going to be ideal as I am looking to get one asap so when he is discharged I can take him home in it as it’s a bit of a walk from parking the car to his door. He has a walk in shower thankfully and was seen by the OT a few years back so has the seat and a rail in the shower too. His mobility has declined quite dramatically over the past 3/4 months but I want to still be able to get him out and about.

Thanks to everyone for advice here

i think as pp I prefer the look of the big wheels but that’s not a reason to choose them. My car is big so no issues with getting a chair in the boot. It’s a lot to think about but as I say he isn’t going to be a full time chair user so we can risk it and go a bit cheaper initially, although I am going to try the NHS referral, will speak to the hospital today about this

Surely the person operated it themselves?

We always like to push now and again as it feels like we're taking some of the strain and helping out, just being polite really. But those electric wheelchairs are really hard to push as it's connected to the motor

But thats the point of them they go themselves.it gives the person a bit of independence.

My husband is a very proud man and cannot stand back when John, our wheelchair-bound friend of many years, is out with us. A year back this resulted in my husband overly exerting himself and gave himself a nosebleed and hernia. The larger wheel of a push wheelchair does not have this problem and allows much more free motion. I was trying to make this clear to the OP

A cushion is a 'must' have. If you ask locally you can possibly borrow one to see what it's like. I have 3 wheelchairs which I lend out if anyone needs one (eg broken leg) for a short time. Are you near Bucks? Put a request on facebook or similar?
I understand the red cross hires them out but when I tried (but it was many years ago) you had to collect from their warehouse at opening hours, which were something like 10.15-10.30 on the third Tuesday of the month. Not helpful.

We got a Rollz rollator wheelchair for Mum off Ebay. It's small wheeled but fine for occasional use and the rollator option helped her to stay mobile a while longer than she would have done. She could set off walking with it, sit down if she needed a rest and when she'd had enough we could turn it into a wheelchair and push her the rest of the way. Something to think about if your Dad still has some mobility? You can get solid or air filled tyres for them and they come in jazzy colours. I can't remember us having any difficulty fitting it in a car boot.