Some wheelchair users and their families may experience problems or complications, relating to their wheelchair, that they may need to sort or overcome. These could include:
The first four points should be resolved by talking the issue through with your wheelchair service directly. They may also have a Wheelchair User Forum that you could attend, especially to make suggestions about service wide improvements or developments that could be considered. If they don’t have a Wheelchair User Forum, do ask why not! Even if they don’t have a forum, this doesn’t mean the Wheelchair Service isn’t collecting feedback, such as through satisfaction surveys, so it is worth emailing them. If you don’t know where your local NHS wheelchair service is, you can ask your GP or look at the NHS directory of local services to help you.
If you decided to buy a wheelchair through an independent retailer, then you should talk the problem through with them in the first instance.
However, despite talking directly with the wheelchair service provider, you may find your problem isn’t resolved. What do you do then?
We hope that the following step by step approach will help you.
The person in the ICB who commissions the wheelchair service will be unable to deal with individual service users’ issues as they do not have access to the relevant notes. However, they are responsible for ensuring your wheelchair service provider delivers the service commissioned. They will expect the wheelchair service provider to have communicated any risks and issues to them in a timely manner and that remedial action plans are in place as and when appropriate.