To wonder about wheelchairs and the NHS?

[RubberTreePlant]

It looks as though DSis is getting to the point of needing a wheelchair. Maybe a powerchair. (Degenerative condition).

Reading between the lines, her GP is pretty useless and she's not due to see her consultant until next year. DSis is quite reserved, almost timid and doesn't like to ask for things or advocate for herself.

What's suppsed to happen with wheelchairs and the NHS? Shouldn't they at least be providing OH assessment and advice? Who does she need to see?

I'd like to help her advocate for herself a bit. Also; She's not the only one in the wider family with the condition, so several of us are likely to need to know this stuff eventually.

Where I live the doctor wrote a letter to the enablement centre outlining the mobility problems
We had an appointment within 2 months and wheelchair fitted the same day as appointment
Same for both of my parents and neither of them had to pay anything

My SIL isn't allowed an electric wheelchair through the NHS as she can walk indoors. They gave her a manual self propelling chair for outdoors. Bit crap really as she can't self propel, so needs a carer at all times when outdoors.

We have lived in 2 different places and accessed 2 different NHS wheelchair services. The first was brilliant and checked up every six months that the wheelchair was still suitable and changed it when OT suggested a different kind would be safer. The second ( where we now live) is terrible and won't change the chair until it's beyond repair. We borrowed a Red Cross one for 3 months while we worked out we definitely needed one and GP referral was very fast. Where we are now you only get powered one if user works

I work for the wheelchair department in Wales. A referral would need to be made by either her GP or if she has an occupational therapist etc they can also make the referral xx

I use a wheelchair and I was referred to wheelchair services who have given me a manual w/c to use but not a power chair because I don’t meet their requirements. Wheelchair services will obviously do their own assessment and I met most of them except being able to walk a few steps at home. My trust, a big London NHS trust, state that if you can walk inside (even if you can’t walk for long distances) then you don’t qualify for a power chair, just a manual chair. I’ve had to get my power chair through charities instead and I’m responsible for the maintenance which can be eye watering