Big London store to try out various wheelchairs?

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I almost put this in the AIBU thread but I guess it's a bit niche. My elderly Dad has a wheelchair, I got it off eBay, it's okay about the house but getting too old and heavy for trips into the local town, plus his foot keeps slipping off the foot pedal (see picture). I have ordered some in via Amazon - well two - over the past year and they're not quite right for some reason, I think one was too narrow. The other too heavy. So they had to go back.

We are not far from London, a train ride away, yet I know of no big store that does transit-style wheelchairs - not self-propelled - where you can just pitch up and try them all out, a choice of 20 or so. Instead it seems you have to order them in and take pot luck. Does anyone know of such a place in London or the Surrey area? There used to be a shop in Norbiton nr Kingston, that moved to Modern I think but I don't imagine that would have a huge number of examples.

Can anyone help? It's not like owning a wheelchair is some kind of niche area in the grand scheme of things.

I just googled wheelchair showroom Surrey for you and the results look quite promising. HTH

https://www.wheelfreedom.com/showroom?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIus-4svPtgAMVhj8GAB1xkg4lEAAYASABEgIhRfD_BwE

You should be able to get an NHS wheelchair assessment:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/care-services-equipment-and-care-homes/walking-aids-wheelchairs-and-mobility-scooters/

Or else look for a mobility shop - there seems to be one in most towns?

My mum had a self propelled wheelchair from the NHS. The District Nurse came and went through a form with her discussing what she needed it for etc, measured her and a week or so later her chair arrived. When it started to wear - a brake was a bit loose and the hand grips came off - it was replaced within days.

Can I ask why you are looking for transit chair? We had one for a while from the Red Cross and it was fine for use indoors but useless outside - even to go from the front door to the car.

Can you get to Bluewater shopping centre? There is a mobility shop there that sells stuff as well as hiring it out.

Thanks @lazymum99 that is actually not far from me, but looking at the website, it seems a bit high end. I may give them a bell, but they don't seem to have bog-standard wheelchairs like the Days make. 'Go order a Days one' I hear you say, but of course, I still want to try them.

Hi @IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere maybe 'transit' chair isn't the term - I just mean not self-propelled ie not the big wheels which anyone else will get their hands caught up in the spokes. Smaller back wheels. As for going via the NHS, I'm not sure - we try to stay off the radar because in some areas the whole elderly care in Surrey is quite sinister. I experienced this with my now late mother - they actually 'confiscated' the wheelchair they'd given her after I got someone on their team to rectify it, give it an MOT - saying she was now in a nursing home so didn't need it. Actually, it was most likely revenge because I'd reported a Banstead care home that nearly killed her to the local press - once you do that, you name goes on a list, it seems! I was furious about it, but that was doubtless the idea.

I guess there is a big difference between health authorities. Once I found how to get the wheelchair it was a smooth process and when she went into a home we took the chair there.

I understand you being concerned about fingers getting trapped in the wheels but have you used one with small wheels out and about? We found it really difficult to get up and down kerbs and not at all comfortable. But the small wheeled chairs that we had were very cheap so perhaps a better quality one is more comfortable.

Surely would be preferable to go via the NHS and get a physio or OT input into what is suitable and the correct size? That would be much safer than a random purchase.

You want Wheelfreedom in Chessington