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NHS Wheelchair Services & Personal Health Budgets
NHS Wheelchair Services assess people with mobility needs, to decide what sort of wheelchair or other mobility equipment they should be provided with.
Usually, it is your GP, hospital doctor or occupational therapist who makes the referral to wheelchair services.
Although it is a national service, it is administered locally, often contracted out to private companies, and there are wide variations from district to district on what criteria the health authority applies, and what equipment they will fund. So, in one area, only people who are in a chair 24/7 will get any support, while in another there might be a more generous approach to mobility needs.
Click here to go straight down to more about Personal Health Budgets
What happens when you access wheelchair services?
Assessments are usually carried out at an NHS centre or clinic, by healthcare professionals such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists or GPs. A “rehabilitation engineer” who specialises in wheelchairs and seating should also be involved.
The assessment will look at your mobility requirements, taking into account not just individual physical needs, but also the environment in which you live and work.
There are waiting lists for assessment and provision of wheelchairs: unfortunately, you may have to wait several weeks to be seen. According to figures from NHS England,
• 70% of wheelchair users wait more than three months for their chair
• 30% wait more than six months
• 15% wait more than 12 months
For the year 2017/18, a fifth of children who needed a chair waited more than 18 weeks, which is the NHS target for provision of a wheelchair.
Choice of equipment
If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be offered either a basic wheelchair, powerchair, buggy, or postural seating system that meets your needs; or, in some areas, a voucher which you can use towards paying for more fully-featured equipment that you might prefer – as long as it also meets or exceeds your clinical requirements.
Within the voucher scheme, there are two options; Partnership and Independent.
The Partnership option provides a voucher for the cost of a basic wheelchair, but allows you to choose a chair from a slightly wider range, approved by the NHS. You pay the difference in the cost, to an agreed supplier, but the chair remains the property of NHS wheelchair services. This means that they are responsible for maintenance and repairs.
The Independent option gives you a voucher for the cost of the chair the NHS would supply you with, together with some extra money to cover the maintenance and repairs they calculate will be needed in its lifetime – generally five years.
Purchase or rental supported
If you choose the independent route, the chair that you buy (from an agreed supplier) can be of any design, brand or value, as long as it meets your needs. It is your property, and you are responsible for the costs of insurance, maintenance and repair, whether this amounts to more or less than was calculated in the voucher.
You can also now use the voucher to rent a wheelchair on a long-term basis. In this case, the monthly rental payment also includes insurance, and provision for maintenance and repairs, making it a particularly good choice for anyone who likes to know exactly where they are financially, without the risk of an unexpected repair bill suddenly arising.
Any specialist postural seating or pressure relief elements are provided by the wheelchair service, and do not form part of a voucher.
Changing Needs
The wheelchair is expected to last five years, but if your clinical needs change in the meantime, you can ask to be reassessed.
NHS wheelchair services should take care of repairs and maintenance, unless you have chosen the independent voucher option.
Unfortunately, there are often long delays – read more here
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Rollout of Personal Health Budgets
Since December 2019, everyone who is eligible for an NHS wheelchair should have access to a personal health budget.
These are planned and agreed between individuals and clinicians, giving people greater choice, flexibility and control over their health and care support.
A personal health budget could be spent on:
• specially adapted wheelchairs designed to maximise independence
• a choice of personal care assistants who can be trained to meet the individual’s needs
• exercise classes to help maintain a healthy lifestyle, gain confidence and reduce stress
More than 70,000 people currently have personal health budgets – 40,000 wheelchair users – and as part of the NHS Long Term Plan, access will increase so that up to 200,000 people can receive one by 2024.
The NHS Long Term Plan aims to expand personalised care. This will be given to 2.5 million people by 2024 through measures including personal health budgets and social prescribing.
Personal Wheelchair Budgets were announced in 2016
Since Personal Wheelchair Budgets were announced in 2016, there have been pilot schemes in five areas, including Gloucestershire, replacing vouchers with a personal budget which could be used for an individual’s choice of wheelchair, either within NHS wheelchair services or from an alternative provider.
Since April 2017, all CCGs (Clinical Commissioning Groups) have been expected to develop plans for delivering Personal Wheelchair Budgets in their area.
In February 2019, the government announced that wheelchair users whose posture and mobility needs impact their wider health and social care needs would have a legal right to a personal health budget.
The latest announcement states that anybody who is eligible for an NHS wheelchair can receive a personal health budget .
Why have a personal budget?
The intention is to give people who use NHS wheelchair services greater choice and control.
This should be achieved through providing holistic assessments that take into account people’s wider needs and how good wheelchair provision can increase independence and improve their health and wellbeing outcomes.
It should enable people to identify their own health and wellbeing outcomes; provide them with more integrated services; and give better information about local choices available.
Wheelchair vouchers are still operating alongside personal wheelchair budgets.
The aims of the personal wheelchair budget model
Implemented well, personal wheelchair budgets should provide increased flexibility, and enable people to access the right wheelchair – one which not only meets their health and wellbeing needs, but also any specific requirements that they identify as most important to them.
They should transfer control over the choice of a wheelchair to users and their families, and provide greater transparency about choices available, including the amount of funding and what should be included.
The budget planning will look at future servicing, repair and replacement needs, as well as the initial purchase of a chair.
The personal wheelchair budget represents an important step towards integrating wheelchair provision into an individual’s wider care, ensuring a more joined-up approach.
Statistically, the new system will also help NHS England to keep meaningful data about wheelchair provision, which should improve services, and iron out variations across the country.
No extra money, but more effective use of existing resources
A personal wheelchair budget will give the user a level of choice and control that they are comfortable with. They may choose to use their personal wheelchair budget within the NHS range that is available locally.
Alternatively, they can add to the budget, to enhance what is available from the NHS, or they can take it to an independent provider and purchase their wheelchair there.
There is no extra funding within the system, but the framework that is being developed is intended to help clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to reduce duplication and utilise resources more effectively.
Article ends – click to return to top or check out related resources below
Further reading and resources
What are the chances of getting an NHS wheelchair? It depends where you live
We have areas of Independent Living dedicated to manual wheelchairs and powerchairs
74 Replies to “NHS Wheelchair Services & Personal Health Budgets”
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Hi, I have just been reassessed by my local NHS Wheelchair service to replace my powered Quickie Salsa Mid wheeled wheelchair. I have spinal cord injury and chronic back pain and they are providing tilt-in space, electric leg rests and electric recline, however, won’t allow a seat riser as this is a social need. However I use the seat riser on my current chair as I experience severe neck pain when looking up, so in order to talk to people I need to be at their level. I thought the new Personal Wheelchair Budget had to provide for well-being as well as clinical needs, and are supposed to take account of social needs as well (being part of the new legislation around PWB). For instance on looking at NHS England website their document ‘Model Service Specification for Wheelchair and Posture Services’ it basically says that that is the case. could you give me any suggestion on how I can formally request a seat riser to be added to my NHS prescription, please?
Hello Samantha
I don’t have any particular expertise in dealing with NHS Wheelchair Services. However, I would say that you have identified the best approach to requesting the inclusion of the seat riser in your prescription, by quoting the requirement for Wheelchair And Posture Services to meet well-being needs. Users are entitled to “a personalised assessment where they are supported to identify the health and wellbeing outcomes they wish to achieve”. If your assessment isn’t doing this, then it’s missed one of its key objectives.
I imagine that the failure to include a seat riser in your prescription may be down to financial considerations. But in that case, the service should also support you to access alternative sources of funding to add to the budget available.
Good luck and best wishes,
Frances
Hello Frances
Thank you for your reply, I came across it by chance when doing an internet search so did not realise you had kindly replied to my original post. I have my wheelchair prescription appointment tomorrow where decisions will be made on the riser and individual elevating legrests. Hopefully they will be more flexible but in my email correspondence with them since my first post, they unfortunately are being more inflexible and also not cooperating with my social worker who is trying to help me get additional funding. I will see what happens tomorrow!
I am pleased to say my NHS wheelchair appointment went well and I will now contact Social Services to ask for funding from my social care budget to provide the riser and electric legrests.
I am waiting for the council to adapt my house ramp and step into small kitchen at the moment. Going to be two years. Will i get the power chair now or after work is finished? I have proof it’s going to be done. Afecting my mental health badly not able to walk to get out, can’t get to gp at top of my road even and don’t have criteria for house bound as able to get to the hospital in patients transport with manual wheelchair which they push. hip injury from nhs physiotherapy ironically been refused hip replacement surgery, unable to weight bare on right hip. Can walk a few paces on crutches manually transfer to a seat. (told not to use crutches by msk Physiotherapy shoulder injury and hernia from crutches use)additionally i get hemiplegic migraine during which I can’t walk at all. Permanent weakness down right side my right leg has unstable knee and i darent fall over as hip injury on left side is very painful. Reason i luckily had two crutches when the physiotherapist injured my hip. Managed to get to the hospital in a taxi. Bought a manual wheelchair which I am too weak to push more than a few meters. I desperately need a power wheelchair i can’t go on feeling depressed unable to get out. Is there a way of getting a power chair under my circumstances. I have bipolar discociate identy disorder and cptsd, been told i need to socialise and walk my dogs by mental health to help.
Hello Catherine
As a principle, NHS wheelchair services won’t supply a power chair unless you are a full time user, indoors and outside. Did you know that if you receive enhanced rate PIP mobility component or higher rate DLA mobility, you can use it to fund a power chair, as you are not already using it for a vehicle. You can find out more here https://www.motability.co.uk/whats-available/ (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)
Best wishes,
Frances
Hi, can anyone help me please. I have been referred for electrical wheelchair. I would like to know how long and what happens now?
Hi we were accessed fora wheel chair from wheelchair services
A few weeks ago
But haven’t heard anything since who do I contact
Hello Tracey
I would contact wheelchair services. They should be able to advise you about what is going on following your assessment.
Best wishes,
Frances
I wonder if you can help me. My 90 year old frail dad is still living in his home and finding it almost impossible now to get out of his current Lounge chair. He also needs to have his legs elevated due to multiple leg ulcers and heart failure but does not have remember to raise his feet. Would dad qualify for financial / equipment support for an electric lounge chair that has a recliner option and well as capabilities to rise so it is easier and possible (!) for him to get up ?
Hello Kath
Your father would need to be assessed by his local social services, to decide whether he could be provided with a riser recliner, or any other mobility and daily living aids.
You should get in touch with the local council and ask for a needs assessment – they will send somebody round to his home to do this. I’m afraid he will probably have to wait a bit…
Best wishes, Frances
I was flat-out refused a power chair on the basis that it would be too risky as I have a neurological condition which impairs my consciousness.
But I can’t walk very far on normal road/pavement surfaces and sometimes I can’t even hold my head and body up (#eds). I also have arm weakness.
I am also not able to drive because of the neurological condition.
I feel like the system doesnt care that its rules basically keep me a prisoner in my own home.
Wheelchair services have provided a powered wheelchair controlled by the persons friend as the user does not have the mental capacity to control the wheelchair for themselves. Wheelchair services are adamant that the wheelchair has been provided for the safety of the friend, who is unable to push the user in the ordinary wheelchair and that the powered wheelchair cannot be operated by the users carer.
The carer struggles to push the user in the non-powered wheelchair but has been told that if she wants to use a powered wheelchair then her employer has to purchase their own powered wheelchair for the user.
This seems wrong, what are your thoughts ?
Hi
My daughter is now 23 and has a personal health budget that I manage for her. There is no provision in the budget to manage her Wheelchair Repairs. She has a neurological and disabling disorder which has caused her to need a specialised chair for postural reasons. It is no longer under warranty and as her full-time carer I’m struggling to cover the costs. Presently she needs two new wheels and a new brake. Who should I contact regarding help. Merton CCG don’t reply to my questions?
Hello Christina
I would contact the local Wheelchair Services who assessed your daughter and provided the wheelchair budget. Ask them how you should proceed with essential repairs/maintenance. Let me know how you get on!
Best wishes,
Frances
Is their a cost for the initial NHS wheelchair assessment? If not, can this be paid for to speed up the process?
Many thanks
Hi Sarah
No – NHS wheelchair assessments are free. I am not aware of a way to pay to speed it up, unfortunately. You can always pay for an independent assessment of mobility needs by a practitioner in private practice – but that wouldn’t then feed into NHS wheelchair services.
Best wishes,
Frances
Hi. My 89 yr old father was referred to wheelchair services by a physio. He uses a Zimmer frame indoors. In addition to his physical disabilities he has dementia
Wheelchairs services provided a wheelchair, but it’s so heavy that only my husband can lift it into the car and push my father in it.
My mother is my father’s main carer. She has widespread arthritis. My father can’t be left at home alone, so at the moment ( the physio has said he can walk on the drive with his Zimmer to get onto the car) , my father had to go with her to shops etc and sit in the locked car. They can’t go out for a coffee or a meal because, supposing he could walk into the place, my father can’t get up off low chairs with no arms.
We’ve tried a lightweight wheelchair and my mother can lift it into the car and push him for short distances on the flat.
Wheelchair services have said they can’t provide him with a lightweight wheelchair because he needs a large chair, and large size lightweight chairs aren’t available on the NHS. This seems wrong to me.
He gets the higher rate of attendance allowance of £ 89 per week, but obviously ,unlike PIP, there’s no mobility element and his social care is costing £160 per week because they’re over the savings threshold.
Seems unfair that someone under retirement age can get the £89 care element, plus up to £120 mobility element whilst also being allowed to earn an unlimited amount, whilst once you’re over retirement age there’s no mobility element available.
I’ve read about wheelchair budgets , but there was no mention of this by wheelchair services. They did say that they could add a power pack to the chair, but that would involve my mother having to bend down a long way to attach and remove the power pack and she can’t bend due to a hip replacement and arthritis in her other hip and spine.
Grateful for any advice.
Hello Susan
I’m afraid you are up against the cash-strapped nature of NHS wheelchair services. And unfortunately as you say, attendance allowance doesn’t include a mobility element.
Your father should have been offered a wheelchair budget – it wouldn’t provide any more money, but could give you more choice. For example, you could add some extra money to get a more lightweight chair. This option may also be available without the wheelchair budget – you can choose to have a voucher instead of a chair, which you can top up and spend on a more suitable chair.
Best wishes,
Frances
Thanks Frances. Would it be Wheelchair services I need to speak to about getting a voucher, or the referring clinician? Susan
It is Wheelchair Services that are responsible.
Our son, 50, has been provided with a specialised seating wheelchair, manual, for most of his life. With the change to use of outside contractors, we have lost the proactive support of the “old” NHS-run wheelchair services. Now there is no input from local professionals who know our son (physios, speech therapists, OCs, GPs, day centres). What’s more, we parents are now, suddenly but without anyone telling us, responsible for referring our son to the “new” clinics (he is unable to do that himself). There is no “circle of care” from health professionals for our son. Our local GP practice changes GPs more times than the wind changes, so no currently employed GP at that practice has ever met our son, let alone find out how he is doing. So pastoral care support has withered away, leaving just his parents, both now in their 70s. My question is, other than his parents, who is formally responsible, and charged with that duty, for ensuring our son’s needs are met (in this case, the matter of suitable wheelchairs)? Because we just cannot find out. Hope someone can help us. Please.
Hello Steve
You have very clearly articulated what must be a widespread problem, and I am sorry to say that I have not been able to find a suggestion anywhere that there might be a person designated to ensure that your son receives appropriate care.
Maybe someone can contradict me, and that would be great. Otherwise, I fear that you are his de facto advocates, and heaven help people who don’t have a caring family member to look after their interests.
There are some excellent GPs around, who takes their patients’ wider care needs very seriously, but there is no ignoring the fact that GP services are facing a crisis of their own, as you have described.
Good luck and best wishes to you all,
Frances
Thanks Frances for taking the time to reply.
I suppose my point is that for years (from birth to about 2010 onwards) our son had a designated health professional. That arrangement was stopped and replaced the ‘circle of care’ led by our GP (their words) to ensure there were no gaps in care. That ‘circle’ never materialised and any notion of it faded away, until we recently realised no health professional seemed to be bothered. The local CCG so far have refused to respond. As has our GP surgery. Our MP has sent an acknowledgement of our letter. Local Healthwatch have made a couple of suggestions but no answers, yet.
So you do seem to be right – there is now no-one looking out for folks like our son. Sure we will always do that, as we have always done, but nothing we do is “official” and recently we have been challenged by health professionals and asked for our right to speak for our son. Worrying is too light a word!
Anyway, thanks again.
Steve
From a quick Google search, the concept of a “circle of care” doesn’t seem to have gained much, if any, traction in the NHS. If you can’t rely on your GP to be the linchpin, it’s hard to see how it would work. But what is even more concerning, I think, is healthcare professionals challenging your position. Completely flies in the face of the principles of person-centred care and engaging with family carers as experts by lived experience!
I hope you get some action to improve the situation for your son…
Good luck and best wishes,
Frances
Just to update folks. We are expecting a communication from the local CCG, They have been asking for and collating responses from (some of?) the people we had mentioned, into a single, combined reply. Expected within the week. It will be interesting to see if anyone has the day-by-day professional responsibility for ensuring our son’s well being, or if he is simply left to fend for himself.
Hello Steve
Thank you for the update – I do hope that the situation resolves itself with some reassurance that someone apart from his parents is charged with ensuring your son’s well-being.
Good luck and best wishes,
Frances
Hi I have just been referred to the Dudley wheelchair service by my GP, I’ve dealt with them in the past as my long term housemate has been a wheelchair user for 10 years, they were very helpful with her case.
My question is, my GP has put on the referral that ideally I would need a powered chair (believe it or not I damaged my spine building a ramp for my housemates wheelchair) I won’t be using the chair in the house as the doors are not wide enough but I can’t self propel in a manual chair and as my housemate also uses a chair would you think that the circumstances may overcome some hurdles?
Hello Ric
Interesting question. As a principle, Wheelchair Services generally won’t provide a powered chair, unless your home is completely accessible. Their rationale is that only full-time users should receive a power chair, and if you can’t get round your house in one then you are not a full-time user…
Whether they will be more flexible in your case, I just don’t know. You can only put forward your case and hope for the best.
If you aren’t successful, but you get enhanced rate PIP mobility, you could use that to lease a power chair on the Motability scheme (as long as you don’t need it to pay for a car). If you need a chair for work, you may be able to get some help through Access To Work https://www.independentliving.co.uk/advice/access-to-work/
And finally, the disability grants website may have some alternative funding sources to try: https://www.disability-grants.org (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)
Best wishes,
Frances
I am trying to get a lightweight electric wheelchair from the NHS. However the lady that rang me the other day was extremely rude and told me they didn’t do lightweight ones, and the ones they provide do not fold down to fit into my car which is from mobility she actually told me I would have to change my car!
After having a meltdown on the phone to her, trying to explain I only got my car in April and also telling her because I can not walk far I am practically house bound and as I’m learning to drive I can’t even go out for a drive on my own I am trying to book my theory test but having no luck with that either. She just wouldn’t help me at all and wouldn’t give me any advice of what I could do. I had no idea you could be eligible for a grant until I came across this website. I have no idea IF I could possibly get a grant as I don’t know how to apply for one. I just don’t have the money to buy one privately either.
Hello Lucy
I am sorry to hear of your upsetting experience with NHS wheelchair services. Never any reason for rudeness like that! It is true that the chairs provided by the NHS are basic – but you should be offered a personal wheelchair budget, and you could put more money with it in order to buy a more lightweight, fully featured chair. It is also possible to use your personal budget to rent a chair, rather than buying it outright: this might make it more affordable.
How far did you get with wheelchair services? Have you had an appointment for an assessment?
Best wishes,
Frances
Hi
No they won’t do an assessment until we put in a ramp (it means knocking out walls and putting in french doors and decking, as there isn’t enough room to have it at the front door. Our door frames are smaller than standard size too. It’s all probably going to cost £££’s to have the alterations done.
The lady never mentioned the personal budget at all.
Okay – I understand. So your first project is applying for a Disability Facilities Grant, which can pay for the ramped access. You can read more about it here https://www.independentliving.co.uk/advice/disabled-facilities-grants/
The grant is means tested, and applications can take quite a while to process, I’m afraid, so you want to get it underway as soon as you can.
NHS wheelchair services generally have a rule that they will only provide a powered wheelchair if you are a full-time user. So if you don’t have wheelchair access to your house, they take this as indicating that you are not a full-time user…
Everybody who is eligible for a wheelchair from the NHS is entitled to a personal health budget, though it sounds as though you may have to ask for it, rather than have it volunteered.
Good luck and best wishes,
Frances
Hi, my Daughter has had an NHS wheelchair for some years now, it is the smallest available adult one after coming out of her child/teenager chair. It has not been very comfortable and is heavy to lift in and out of the car. We are now in our sixties and find that the weight is getting too much for us and we could end up having an accident. Because our Daughter is slight in build we have to put cushions on the chair to give support. The chair has a ridged frame with no suspension, so every knock and bang is felt by the passenger and the carer pushing the chair. Our daughters health conditions have worsened over the years so comfort is paramount for her when she is taken out. Also, she hasn’t got the strength to propel the chair herself in most places and finds it hard even on flat ground when she has tried. This is due to her own weakness combined with the hard tyres on the wheels and the make up of the chair. We would like to upgrade her comfort to acceptable or better to improve her wellbeing. If this is possible where do we actually go for help and support, as our first port of call?
Your help would be much appreciated as we are desperate to get her out a little more in the future than she has been for quite some time now, and with comfort.
Thanks for your time. Dave.
Hello Dave
It certainly doesn’t sound like her current chair is meeting your daughter’s needs. You should get in touch with your local NHS wheelchair services, and ask for an assessment. This should happen routinely after five years, and can be requested sooner if the user’s clinical needs have changed.
With a personal wheelchair budget, you can add extra money yourselves to get a chair that is of a higher spec or has extra comfort features. I’m afraid you will probably have to wait a while for the appointment.
Good luck and best wishes,
Frances
Thank you Frances. We thought that would be the thing to do and was advised of that route via another wheelchair user. I wanted to verify the details with you to confirm the information was correct. I’ll speak with my Daughter and give her your answer, she can then decide for herself how to proceed.
Kind regards, Dave.
I have a manual chair I bought privately 4 years ago. At the time I bypassed wheelchair services as I was a part time user and my GP felt they wouldn’t be able to help me unless I was going to be using it in the house. The chair is suitable still (though somewhat ill fitting due to being ex demo and not made for me) but I want an assessment for a better cushion as the one I got at the time hurts me now. Would wheelchair services help with this if I didn’t get my chair with them? And could I self refer as an existing wheelchair user?
Hello Eleanor
Your GP was right, wheelchair services will only help full-time users. With regard to your question, I am not sure: although it is a national service, it is run locally and they have slightly different criteria. Generally speaking, you need a referral from a healthcare professional the first time you deal with them – but you could try contacting them direct and ask.
Good luck and best wishes,
Frances
Why is it that I can’t get nhs transport wheelchair because my weight is 28 stone have seen bigger people in nhs chairs
Hello Marion
Do you mean that NHS Wheelchair services have said you aren’t eligible for a wheelchair? Because there are, of course, chairs available for users of all sizes.
I am getting a visit hopefully from wheelchair services on Friday for a electric wheelchair….I have a heavy push wheelchair that I can’t use due to muscle wasting for 30 years steroids use, lupus is my main problem…i fall regularly at home & awaiting a new hip.
Do you think I will qualify for a light weight electric wheelchair
I certainly hope so, Deby. But there are no national criteria, and different wheelchair services have different approaches to meeting needs. To qualify anywhere, you need to be a full-time wheelchair user and your home needs to be fully wheelchair accessible.
Frequently, an attendant operated chair is considered to be the appropriate provision for someone who is unable to self-propel.
Good luck and best wishes,
Frances
Just a brief reply — “An attendant operated power chair” for someone who is looking for more independence and just can’t push a heavy manual chair!
This poor lady must be crushed by the answer!
She should be provided with an ordinary powerchair she can easily manoeuvre using a joy stick remote.
Will WCS do this??
They may well not, unfortunately. The requirements you have to meet to get a power chair are quite challenging.
I have no way of knowing what the outcome was in this particular case – it would be lovely to think that she was successful 🙂
Sad really isn’t it!
Also, it is sad – WRONG? – that Personal Wheelchair Budgets haven’t been offered more widely!
I am just about to ask my WCS for a Powerchair as my health has deteriorated and a manual wheelchair no longer works for me!
Cross your fingers!
Wrong – definitely. Since December 2019, anyone who is eligible for an NHS wheelchair is entitled to a personal wheelchair budget.
I will certainly keep my fingers crossed for you, and if you aren’t offered a personal budget, I suggest that you ask for one!
Good luck and best wishes 🙂
Hi,
I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and ME at the tender age of 15, and 9 years on I still haven’t really received any care or treatment, meaning I’m still very Poorly with it. My GP brushes me off when I ask about wheelchairs saying I shouldn’t use one, but I NEED one to function as I’m housebound without.
I have a blue badge and am currently applying for PIP
What do I do?
Hi Laura, there are second hand wheelchairs on eBay. Some are very cheap. I have bought a fully motorised one for £75, there are some on there for as little as £10! I have MND, and rather than jumping through their hoops to get one, I decided todo it myself. Kind regards.
Tom
Dear sir,
Have had a nhs supplied wheelchair for at least 7 years and may be time to be replaced. Will the nhs supplier a like for like wheelchair
Many thanks
Peter Watson
Hello Peter
You should get in touch with your local NHS wheelchair services – they will arrange for an assessment, and then either provide you with a chair that meets your clinical needs (which might have changed in the last seven years) or a personal budget which enables you to have more choice – but not more money.
Best wishes,
Frances
Can I get a all terain electric wheelchair on nhs please!?
Hello Stephen
You need to get referred to NHS wheelchair services for an assessment in the first place – your GP or another care professional can do that for you. If you are assessed as eligible for a powerchair, the wheelchair service will provide you with a basic chair that meets your clinical needs, or a voucher you can use towards the cost of a chair with a higher spec.
Alternatively, you should be eligible for a personal health budget, which might be another way to get a chair that is closer to your aspirations. Anybody who is eligible for an NHS wheelchair should also be able to access a personal health budget – but it is still quite new, so you will need to ask your local Service what the situation is in your area.
You will also find that there are different arrangements in place during the lockdown – it may not be possible to get an assessment in the usual way. Again, your local wheelchair service will be able to give you information.
I hope this helps. Please don’t hesitate to come back to me if there is anything else you would like to ask.
Best wishes,
Frances
Good day
I have a NHS supplied Quickie Salsa M2. Due to my spine being damaged, being a double amputee it has become extremely uncomfortable. I am unable to lead and independent lifestyle as NHS wheelchair services say it meets my needs.
They offered me a voucher that is a lot more comfortable and will allow me to lead a more independent lifestyle which is only about £2850. I got assessed by an independent supplier that took on board my entire medical needs and got a quote for £10785. This is also taking into consideration that I drive from my wheelchair.
Where can I go to for a grant or assistance with getting the right wheelchair. My current wheelchairs backrest shudders which is actually damaging my spine.
Hello Roberto
I am aware of Motability providing financial support with specialist wheelchair seating for a user who was unable to use their drive-from wheelchair vehicle without it. So it may be worth trying them.
And you can also check out the Disability grants website – they are a really comprehensive source of information on funding from charities and trusts. https://www.disability-grants.org (external link will open in a new browser window)
Good luck and best wishes,
Frances
Hi,
I’ve been diagnosed with ME by my neurologist which doesn’t really mean a whole lot. But basically sometimes I’m too weak to stand and I also collapse a lot when I go out and can’t always get up again for a long time- which is very embarrassing!!! so I rarely leave the house now. The problem is my mobility fluctuates. So sometimes I am capable, which means the doctors don’t always help. I’m bed ridden about 50% of the time and I can’t even get up to cook sometimes so I eat on average once a day- if that. It’s getting out of hand now but don’t know if I’ll qualify for any help because I might be fine on the day. If I wasn’t at uni, I would not have any income or way to like earn money because I can’t maintain a job. My life is kinda falling apart because of my health. What can I do?
You should apply for PIP, Darlene, and it helps if you have some support through the process. If you contact a local ME support group, they should be able to help, otherwise your local citizens advice bureau is a good place to start.
It is a bit more difficult completing an application when you have a fluctuating condition. There is helpful advice here specifically for people with ME/CFS:
https://solvecfs.org/top-7-tips-for-claiming-disability-benefits-with-m-e/ (external link will open in a new browser window)
I hope this helps. Please don’t hesitate to come back to me if there is anything else you would like to ask.
Good luck and best wishes,
Frances
Is this NHS England only?
Hello Clive
Yes – Personal Health Budgets were introduced by NHS England, and aren’t operative in Wales or Scotland. In Wales you have the Artificial Limb & Appliance Service, which operates under its own rules. For example, it doesn’t have a voucher scheme, and is quite strict about people paying to have any additional features added to the equipment provided.
Best wishes,
Frances
Hi my stepdaughter had an OttoBock B500 provided by Wakefield Wheelchair Service in June 2012. She was assessed and it was provided with a tilt in space, riser, lighting and locking caster wheels to aid loading and unloading in her car. In June 2019 the chair at 7yrs old developed an electrical fault which caused the gearbox oil to overheat causing fumes which filled the house!!! She was occupying the chair at the time and had to be manually removed which caused severe trauma and distress. She was provided with a temporary Quickie tango with her moulded Otto Bock seat belted to the frame. We have been told that risers cannot be provided on a replacement chair which we have not been able to obtain to date. What advice can you give me please as my step daughter has lost a great deal of her independence and is becoming de skilled in social and home settings.
Hello Kevin
I’m sorry to hear of your daughter’s alarming experience with her power chair.
NHS wheelchair services should have assessed her for a new chair by now – five years is how long they are expected to last. So I would get in touch straightaway and ask for an appointment. Inevitably there are delays in the system, and you don’t want her to be left without a suitable chair for any longer than necessary.
I hope this helps. Please don’t hesitate to come back to me if there is anything else you would like to ask.
Best wishes,
Frances
Hi, I was given an indoor/outdoor ??? powered wheelchair last year. When I was assessed I explained that I am active and like to take my dog for a walk myself and I also like to visit friends and go out for meals etc with them. They assessed me in a quickie salsa with 4 poles motors Tilit in space and 6.5 mph capability. I told them that this would be perfect for my needs. I was actually given a quickie m2 mini with 2 pole motors, tilt in space and only 4mph output. This chair only takes 33ah batteries so can only get about 3-4 real world miles out of it which means short, really slow dog walks and makes going out to the city completely out of the question after taking my dogs a walk. Whilst I really need my chair it just doesn’t fulfil my needs at all. What can I do? Can I ask for reassessment and ask for a Personal Wheelchair Budget or ask them for something that’s meets my requirements to help me lead a more independent life?
Thanks
Hi Steven – Unfortunately, NHS wheelchair services are as strapped for cash as most other areas of health and social care. Essentially, they will just provide a basic chair to meet your clinical needs. But you should have been given the option of either a voucher, so that you could use it towards the cost of a higher spec chair, or a personal budget, which puts you in charge of how it is spent. Although without any extra money. I would certainly go back to them and explain the shortcomings of the chair relative to your needs, and ask what they are going to do to resolve the situation.
Good luck and best wishes,
Frances
I have recently been assessed by my local NHS Wheelchair Services and been awarded a figure which I can use towards the purchase of a replacement wheelchair – 5 year voucher scheme.
Should I accept this amount or wait until after 2.12.19 to see if I am awarded a greater figure – or will it be the same?
Hello Paul
The personal budget doesn’t come with any extra funding, unfortunately, so I don’t think there will be any more money on offer after December 12…
Best wishes,
Frances
My wheelchair is around six years old and has never been serviced nor have I been reassessed. What should I do?
Hello Julie
I would get in contact with your local NHS wheelchair service and ask for an appointment to be reassessed. As you already have a chair, you can go to them directly, rather than through your GP etc.
Best wishes,
Frances
Hi Can you let me know if there are any changes to the provision of wheelchairs in Scotland.. again frustration around basic provision and waiting times….. they are just so expensive to purchase and only a few companies will actually let you trial them for 24 hours outside…. I don’t drive and have to take the bus to work…. if I could drive I would not buy a car without a test drive….. ???
Hi Sharon
As far as I am aware, there aren’t any changes to the way wheelchairs are provided in Scotland. I completely agree with you that it is far from satisfactory to buy an essential piece of mobility equipment without having the opportunity to try it out first. One option might be to hire a chair for a short time, if you think it’s one you might be interested in buying. And it might be educational to read the owner reviews on Access Your Life, to see what people think about the chairs they use… http://www.accessyourlife.co.uk (external link will open in a new browser window)
Good luck and best wishes,
Frances
Both my daughter and myself have to use electric wheelchairs to be able to get around outside of our house but our local NHS service does not provide them as we don’t need them 24hours a day. Where do we stand with regard to qualifying for help under the new system?
Also my mother has severe Parkinson’s and is in a chair unless she’s in bed but as she needs one a carer can control from behind the local service has again said they won’t help. Where do my parents turn to for help as the O.T. was the one who put in the referral (which has so far taken months for nothing to happen until my dad phoned them.)
Hello Rae
Unfortunately, this introduction of personal health budgets doesn’t change the eligibility criteria. As far as I am aware, all local wheelchair services will only provide a power chair if you require one 24 hours a day.
It may well also be that they won’t provide a power chair for your mother, though they should certainly provide her with a wheelchair that meets her postural needs. If she gets DLA or PIP, you can use that to lease a chair and powerpack on the Motability scheme (Unless she is already using it to lease a car).
I would also talk to the OT who made the referral in the first place, and see if they can do anything to change the outcome.
And finally, you may be able to get financial assistance from a charitable trust. Either Parkinson’s UK could be a good place to start looking, or the disability grants website, which has lots of useful information. http://www.disability-grants.org (external link will open in a new browser window)
I hope this helps. Please don’t hesitate to come back to me if there is anything else you would like to ask.
Best wishes,
Frances
I have a Nhs wheelchair no choice just given powerchair but would love a Personal health budget how do I get one
Hello Pam
Your NHS wheelchair is expected to last for five years, unless your clinical needs have changed in the meantime. So when your next assessment comes along, you should ask for a personal health budget, to give you a greater choice of power chairs.
Best wishes,
Frances
my mum got a wheelchair, she has passed away, what should we do with the wheelchair?
Hello
If the wheelchair came from the NHS, you should contact the local NHS wheelchair service, and ask what arrangements they have for returning unused chairs. Otherwise, your local British Red Cross office should be pleased to receive it as a donation 🙂
Best wishes,
Frances