Wheelchair Services UK statement

[Burgerman]

How to get a wheelchair
NHS wheelchair services

NHS wheelchair services offer assessments to determine what type of wheelchair or mobility equipment you may be entitled to on the NHS.

In most cases, you'll be referred to the service by a hospital, doctor, consultant or occupational therapists. See the directory of wheelchair services for a full list of services.

In general, wheelchair services are available to people of all ages who have a long-term need for mobility help. However, the specific criteria for whether you're eligible are decided locally and will vary depending on where you live.

Before you can be offered a wheelchair, you'll have to undergo an assessment. This will determine if you're eligible and, if so, what type of mobility equipment is most appropriate. The assessment is normally carried out at NHS wheelchair services centres or clinics.

The people who assess you will all be health professionals, such as GPs, occupational therapists, or physiotherapists, and should include a "rehabilitation engineer" (someone who specialises in wheelchairs and seating). There is no one-size-fits-all policy, which means you will be assessed according to your individual needs. The assessment should take into account your physical and social needs, as well as the environment in which you live and work.

Take particular notice of the last paragraph.
YOUR SOCIAL needs. YOUR ENVIRONMENT as in broken footpaths, wet muddy lanes or parks, beaches and hills... YOUR CAR and crash testing, tie down availability. And YOUR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS. Like pubs, dog walking, safety (lights?) etc etc.

That doesn't mean they will only offer you a basic spec slow TDX SP or a Invacare Harrier or whatever they get cheap, that they offer everyone, and refuse to budge. It means they need to consider your personal needs and look at other chairs as required or suggested by you too if they better suit your life. Even though they will tell you otherwise! Behind all the smiles and "helpfulness" is an agenda. To save as much money on each user as they can get away with.

[expresso]

I agree with you there - But what they dont tell you also is - thats all based on what Insurance will cover - they will try very hard to only offer what ever chairs fall under a Group code which is covered by insurance -

depends how your insurance - most cover whats called Group 3 Chairs - all of those are not high speed motors - the best Group 3 chair is the S636 in my eyes - - for example - at the time i got the P222se i have now - my insurance at that time did not cover it - its a group 4 - - Most of not all of the So Called Professionals involved in getting your chair - they wont and most cases Cant even try to make a case for you for a Group 4 Chair if insurance dosnt cover - it may be possiable that i can be covered if they really make a strong case for you and the reason its needed - but between 636 and 646 - only difference is speed - so whats the case for just wanting more speed - also take into account - all the insurance is concerned about is that it works for you indoors -

this is how it is here in the States with Medicare - Medicaid etc, - unless they change those rules - now everyone knows that everyone goes outdoors so thats really stupid - so bottom line i hate to sign a wavier and pay the difference for the P222se - as opposed to a Group 3 chair price - and the vendor sales guy didnt even want to do that - they tried to talk me out of it - cant be done etc, etc, - i got so feed up with both of them and emailed the President of the Vendor doing my chair - and told him my story - NO problem after that - i paid the difference and got my speed

now with my 646se chair - Group 4 - i managed to wiggle myself enough to get it paid - my insurance is the same but with a managed care company and they are much more flexiable with Chairs etc, - this time i used a different Clinic - and the person there was excellent - she is very good and did a great job in justifying my needs for this chair - plus they want to get the user whats needed and what the user wants also giving they can be sure the end user can handle the speed or what ever to be in control etc, - very lucky - i didnt have to pay anything extra this time - and i got the seat lift also - tilt etc, - very useful to me and you never even notice its there - when chair is down -

its a bunch of bullshit to deal with though also - now its the battery issues - most are giving out cheap AGM that dont work at all - had to fight almost to get the MK GEL -

again 95% of users wont even go the extra mile to get what they want or fight for it - so they take it and then complain the whole time after about it - and Pride Chairs suck - all of them -

[Burgerman]

In the UK we don't have insurance. Group codes, or any of that complication. We are assessed, and then everything I wrote above is correct. The NHS supply the powerchair that suits your needs as above.

(Or in my case cash, and I build better stuff than they can supply).

[Irving]

In the UK we don't have insurance. Group codes, or any of that complication. We are assessed, and then everything I wrote above is correct. The NHS supply the powerchair that suits your needs as above.

(Or in my case cash, and I build better stuff than they can supply).

Still negotiating on the cash aspect... there's some reluctance there. They're afraid of what they don't understand!

[Burgerman]

Yes. I had the advantage of discussing this while sat on the rear two wheels on my BM2 chair so they could see the result.

[Sully]

John, NHS is insurance, since the UK has a single payer system, that is one insurance PAYS ALL bills and your nation of people pay for it through a tax or series of taxes intended to provide health and Welfare to the citizens of your nation.

There is the problem between the UK version of Health Insurance and the US very confusing system. There are too many cooks in the kitchen, here. Plus we have many rather dumb folks who do not wish to pay such a tax, no matter how it is spread around, or the good it will do. Those are the folks who say they never get sick or become injured etc. They do believe they are immune to everything.

Insuring peoples health, in my opinion cannot be insured by individual Insurers. And if we are going to keep people from dying on the Hospital steps, or require individualized equipment to live as any other human beings our Nation, the USA will have to institute some sort of Nationalized health care one payer system such as GB has. That was the attempt that Pres. Obama tried to get written and passed. In the process of writing it, the bill became bastardized, parts of it are barely recognizable from the original attempt. Some place along the line it might be repaired or rewritten, but my nation might see the value of a properly thought out one payer health care system. (I hope)

[expresso]

Thats great if you can get Cash - and then make them yourself - i dont think many people can do that even if you gave them double the cash your one of a very few who can do it - very lucky you get cash and can have fun building a great chair every few years -

how often do they consider it time for a new chair or more Cash in you Case ? in the states - from what i am hearing now - at the very least 6 years before you can even be considered - and up to 10 if its working fine and meets your needs

now if it dosnt meet your needs any longer or your condition changed - in which case you may need a new setup - then theres a chance you can get a new chair sooner - i was told just recently that my back up chair wont be replaced if not 10 years old

how true that is - i dont know - at least they cover Two chairs for me - they will service repair etc, two chairs - my third in home chair only not covered any longer - i have to pay if i need anything done to that chair -

[Burgerman]

3 years in my case, and is average. Or whenever you need it. Or if something doesn't suit your clinical or other requirements.

[Burgerman]

NHS is insurance

Quite. It is paid by the government/council/nhs from individual taxation, tax on goods, business etc.

But from the users point of view, medical care is "free". Ill? Go to hospital, doctor, get treatment, operations, medicines, drugs, wheelchairs, housing adaptations, wheelchairs etc as required. No paperwork, no insurances, no arguments. You are entitled to care, medical, aftercare, equipment, adaptations etc. I cant imagine any other sensible way to organise this that wasn't a nightmare.

[expresso]

3 years - thats great - very good - its all about money here - and they all get it - something it getting it - not the people thats for sure

so you Can build your chairs every 3 years easily and all paid - imagine having to wait 10 years !!! -

[Burgerman]

I build a fresh one about every 12 to 18 months as they get dirty, worn, etc. No point doing repairs, its not economic. Better to do the lot, build well so nothing fails for 18 months. And then rebuild ready for each spring. Hence the green one... viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5380

It gives you chance to modernise, improve too, and then it will need new tyres, bearings, upholstery, possibly motors, blasting, paint, new bolts, new rose joints, arm uprights and soft tops, and a huge clean and wiring loom check over, replace fuses/breakers, and careful rebuild anyway. About 2.5 to 3k. So still cheaper than 1 "new" production chair every 5 or 10 years. And way better.

That works out as almost as cheap and better than trying to keep an old tatty one running and breaking down and having a ratty chair... And you get to drive a fresh new chair every spring.

[expresso]

thats great - what do you do with all your older chairs over time - do you donate your old old ones - at your rate - you have a dozen chairs before i get a new one here i like the green - reminds me of my younger days - when i used to ride my dirtbike at the track each weekend - i was a honda CR guy back then -

i have to say - those years with the dirtbike are some of the best fun i ever had -

[Burgerman]

I recycle them. That green chair is almost 20 years old!

If you have a sweeping brush, and you replace the handle 6 or 7 times, and the head 4 or 5 times, how old is it?

[expresso]

have no clue - all depends when you replace the items - each year - same time for both -

whow 20 years - that looks better than my brand new chair - amazing work - dedication -

[Burgerman]

Its easy. You disassemble. Every part that is to be reused gets blasted, powder coated and returned. Most of the rest goes into the bin if it isn't indistinguishable or better than new..

[Sully]

Great plan, John.