Getting a wheelchair in the UK through the NHS

If you are a resident in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and you have a disability it will probably be possible for you to obtain a wheelchair through the National Health Service (NHS).

The NHS can, through its providers, offer both manual and powered wheelchairs depending on the assessed needs of the user.

What you need to do

If you believe that you (or a member of your family) may be entitled to a free wheelchair through the NHS you need to be aware of, and do the following.

Firstly, your local heath authority are responsible for funding this service and that means that different authorities may have slightly different ways of operating. This can reflect in the way in which the wheelchairs are provided (e.g. the type of wheelchair, appointment timescales etc) and more importantly the eligibility criteria that they use to determine who has an entitlement and what that entitlement is.

The process for determining eligibility is generally fairly consistent. Initially you need to be referred to your local NHS wheelchair service. This referral can be made by your doctor, a consultant, a hospital or an occupational therapist. Some authorities also allow self referral – where you can contact them directly. When a referral has been made you can normally expect your assessment appointment within about four weeks.

Once you have been referred to a local wheelchair service an assessment of your needs will take place. This will be determined by the local authority and will usually take account of factors like your disability or mobility limitations, your lifestyle, your access to services, and your suitability for different types of wheelchair. These criteria should be discussed with you and you should be given a full understanding of how the decision will be made. In some instances the providers may communicate this information to you indirectly through the doctor or hospital that referred you.

It will also be usual for this assessment to make you aware of the types of wheelchair that your local authority offers and the timescales and any funding requirements that are relevant to your situation.

The assessment and getting your wheelchair

Your wheelchair assessment will be performed by a consultant or (more probably) an occupational therapist. The assessment will probably take place at your local NHS wheelchair service centre and the specialists involved will be sympathetic to your needs and requirements.

For people with a severe disability or mobility limitation, other specialists may also be involved. This may be because it is necessary to look at the use of additional features, fittings or customisation of the wheelchair.

After your assessment has taken place a decision will be made to determine if you are entitled to a wheelchair and which type of wheelchair will be most suitable for you. Options include manual (human powered models) and electric models. In the case of certain electric models there are different classifications and additional criteria (like a DVLA eye test if a road worth mobility scooter is recommended).

The time span from having an assessment to receiving a wheelchair can vary dramatically depending upon factors like, availability of standard models and the build time for customised models.

Once your wheelchair is available you will be contacted and arrangements will be made for either a pick up or delivery to your home. In both cases you will receive a demonstration and training on how to operate the wheelchair along with the documentation, maintenance requirements and a contact phone number (in the event of a problem).

Finally, if your assessment determines that you are not entitled to an NHS funded wheelchair, or if you were provided with a wheelchair, but now feel that the model you were offered is no longer suitable, you can ask for a re-assessment. A reassessment will only be available if you can prove that your condition, circumstances or needs have changed since the original assessment. This will normally be confirmed by your doctor, hospital or occupational therapist.

In all cases, the best starting point for commencing the wheelchair assessment process is to discuss your situation with your doctor, hospital or occupational therapist. You should then follow their advice and recommendations. The appropriate NHS website page is www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/HealthAndSupport/Equipment/DG_4000495.

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