looking for a wheelchair

[kid]

I am trying to get a wheelchair for an elderly relative that has just had surgery on her leg.
She is usually very independent, never at home for the whole day, hunts down a bingo game for every day of the week etc.

But since the operation 2 weeks ago, she has been unable to leave the house due to being in so much pain. She is currently using a zimmer frame or crutches which is fine for moving around in the house, but not so fine to go out.

We did ask NHS for a wheelchair on loan but was refused. They have said she will have to get the bus if she wants to go out.

Enquired at some hire places, but they quoted £120 for 6 week loan. Ebay sell them for around £70 but that is also quite expensive for what we hope will just be 3 or 4 weeks use.

Any other suggestions welcomed!

I can understand why people steal them from the hospitals now.

Have you tried age concern?

I couldn't find the details for age concern in my area.
I found one that hire wheelchairs out to people living in Bexley Heath, which is not us.

Think I'll have another look for a phone number so I can phone them tomorrow.

I am so glad that I didn't mention I was trying to get a wheelchair to her. I am so close to giving up. Maybe I'll just drive her door to door and get people to carry her around!

She is 81 and isn't used to being stuck indoors. The district nurse told her she will just have to get 2 buses to the bingo if she wants to go that much. She also told her when asked about visiting family and friends that if they were good family or friends, they would come and visit her!
She just wants to get out of the house.

She was stuck in her hospital bed for 10 days and has now been stuck indoors for the past 5 days.

Thanks for the suggestion.

The red cross also lend out wheelchairs.

I tried the res cross, they don't hire out wheelchairs in London.

I have just emailed age concern. Just have to wait for a reply from them now.

Information from the DLF here

thank you for that link. there are a few places on there that we may be able to hire from.

I will make a note of their numbers and give them a call tomorrow afternoon.

There is a contact for red cross in london and it says they hire for a £30 deposit plus donation. But when I emailed them over the weekend, they replied that they do not hire in london anymore. Maybe some information on that page is out of date, or maybe I should contact them again but by phone?

It can be a nightmare trying to surce a wheelchair, and I think you are right, the Red Cross don't do them in London.

Is she receiving Physio through a community or 'pct' service? In the end DS's physio sorted out his wheelchair through the 'community' end of the NHS rather than through the hospital. The Occupational Therapy department of Social Services might help too - they brought ramps for our front door and a few other useful bits and pieces - a plastic bench to go over the bath.

It may be the DLF factsheet is out of date - they have a lot of factsheets, so only update every so often. The red cross website also says they don't do equipment hire in London, but do suggest you contact the next closest area (which could work if you're on the outskirts - I've done this before in terms of borrowing equipment from the next county, but they do generally require you to do the pick up/return).

Some shopmobility schemes do longer term hire too (you'd need to search for your specific area - depends how they've been set up).

Suggest postcard in post-office window or similar, asking for a loan.
You could borrow mine, but too far away.

Your local Shopmobility might be worth a try. Or if there is a DIAL in your area they might be able to point you in the right direction.

If you google 'wheelchair hire london' there are several private companies -- although none of them are particularly cheap this one looks cheaper than you were quoted.

If you can pick something up on ebay it's worth bearing in mind you will probably be able to re-sell it again afterwards.

Try Freecycle - someone may well have one

Age concern got back to me. I've had to give relatives details and my phone number. Hopefully I'll hear from them tomorrow.

Didn't think of freecycle, no harm in trying!

If she's in London might be an idea to apply for a Taxi Card - I applied when my mum quite poorly ,so GP referral letter described her state her of health at time .
She's had periods when slightly better ,tho less mobile now .
Trying to explain that you need GP or clinic to support ,which maybe wouldn't normally apply .
www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=1&oq=taxi+card&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADFA_enGB381GB381&q=taxi+card