Wheelchair Assessment Service

Our service aims to aid mobility, independence, wellbeing and quality of life for individuals who have a long-term disability or medical condition that significantly affects their ability to walk and is likely to limit them for at least six months.

Assessments are carried out in clinics held at the Re-enablement Service Centre in Norwich. We are also able to provide some clinic appointments at our Parkview Clinic in King's Lynn. Home visits are offered in exceptional circumstances only.

 Patients information leaflet

 

 

Our clinicians provide a thorough assessment process in order to establish the most beneficial wheelchair we can provide for our patients. This can involve:

• Wheelchair assessment
• Postural assessment
• Pressure care needs
• Alterations and adjustments, to meet specific needs.
• Re-assessment, where patients needs/requirements have changed.

If you have not visited the service before, an initial referral needs to be made via a healthcare professional involved in your care. For example:

• Your GP
• A Community Nurse
• An Occupational Therapist
• A Physiotherapist

After the initial referral, the Wheelchair Assessment Service accepts self-referrals from individuals registered with the service.

Please watch the video to learn how to take measurements for a wheelchair. You will need a paper measuring tape (please use the one provided by the trust), along with a pen and paper.

While you may experience some waiting time for an assessment or to receive an appropriate wheelchair, the information below is to inform you about the supportive services available during this period.

Red Cross

People of all ages can hire a wheelchair on a donation basis from Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Sheringham, Kings Lynn, North Walsham, Holt and Ipswich. Tel: 0300 456 1914 or 01603 623041.

 

ShopMobility 

ShopMobility is a charity that provides manual and power chairs and mobility scooters for day hire to people visiting Norwich. Please contact ShopMobility for more information:

Chantry Place Car Park Level - 1

St Stephens St

Norwich

NR2 1SF

Tel: 01603 365100

Email: shopmobility@equallives.org.uk 

 

Broadland Wheelchair & Mobility Scooter Hire 

Broadland Mobility offer short-term, all-age, bespoke wheelchair and mobility scooter hire options. Broadland Mobility is based in Great Yarmouth:

102- 105 St. Nicholas Road

Great Yarmouth

NR30 1NL

Tel: 0800 1510255 or 07759777125 

Email: info@broadlandmobility.co.uk

 

Buying a wheelchair

You may want to purchase a wheelchair and not wait for an NHS assessment. It’s important to know that you don’t have to pay VAT on a wheelchair if you or the person you’re buying it for is chronically ill or disabled. The right wheelchair will depend on your needs, funding and what you need to use it for. Think about your needs and make a list of any challenges you have getting around and tasks that you find most difficult. Also consider any non-negotiable features your wheelchair must have. It can also help to think about:

• Will you push yourself/get pushed by someone? 
• How often will you use your chair and for what length of time?
• Will it need to be able to be transported? 
• If you need to use it indoors or outdoors or both
• What your budget is
• How much it will cost to maintain and repair
• Do you need something custom-made?

Please note that if you decide to purchase your own wheelchair privately we will not be able to support with the funding in retrospect. Please inform the Wheelchair Service if you do decide to purchase privately so that we can take you off the waiting list.

 

Other useful links

The Norfolk Millennium Trust

01603 623958

ERS Medical Patient Transport

0333 240 4100

Norwich Door to Door Mobility Transport

01603 776735

Turn 2 Us

Back Up Trust Wheelchair Skills

Telephone: 01603 216956 / 01603 216957

Email: wheelchair.services@nchc.nhs.uk

Our address:

Re-enablement Services Centre

Julian Hospital

Site 201 Bowthorpe Road

Norwich

NR2 3UD

Park View Bungalow

2 Birch Tree Close

PE30 5QD

 

Opening hours: 8am - 4pm, Monday - Friday

 

Can’t make your appointment?

If you cannot attend your assigned appointment date/time, please contact us in advance to let us know.

This will help us maintain a more efficient and effective service.

Our Wheelchair Repairs Service offers support, maintenance and repairs.

NHS wheelchairs provided on loan are maintained by the Wheelchair Repairs Service (WRS). The WRS will visit yearly to inspect the wheelchair. If there are any problems or the wheelchair hasn’t been inspected with in its service due date it is the patient's responsibility to contact the WRS to request a visit.

Personal Health Budget wheelchairs (see below for more details) are the responsibility of the patient to have the wheelchair maintained. The WRS will not maintain any wheelchairs not provided by the service.

Please note that there are some decisions that the Wheelchair Repairs Service technicians cannot make, as they need to be approved by a clinician. WRS will contact a clinician if a decision needs to be made outside of their remit. You are also welcome to contact the Wheelchair Assessment Service if there is anything our technicians cannot help you with.

The WRS operates within the hours of 8am-4pm, Monday to Friday.

For any maintenance, repairs, broken, worn or faulty equipment, please contact:

Wheelchair Repair Service: 01603 780914, 01603 780915 or via email: wheelchair.repairs@nchc.nhs.uk

Our address

The Red House 

160 Hellesdon Park Road

Hellesdon Park Industrial Estate 

NR6 5DR

We also offer an out of hours emergency service. This runs from 4pm-9pm Monday - Friday, and on weekends and Bank Holidays 9am - 9pm. Please call us on 07810 056222 for all emergencies.

Please note that the WRS does not provide roadside recoveries.

If you require a repair while travelling outside of Norfolk, but in the UK, please contact the service who will direct you to a local wheelchair service provider.

Returning old or unused equipment

If you no longer require or use a wheelchair provided by our service, please call us on 01603 780914 to arrange for your equipment to be collected.

We can repair, recycle and reuse old or unwanted wheelchairs.

The Personal Health Budget Scheme (formally the Voucher Scheme) is available to anyone who meets equipment provision criteria and would like an alternative to the wheelchairs NCH&C provides.

More information can be found at https://www.england.nhs.uk/personal-health-budgets/personal-wheelchair-budgets/

There are two types of Personal Health Budget’s that can be used in our service at this time. The Notional Wheelchair Budget and Third Party Wheelchair Budget.

Notional personal wheelchair budget

This is where the person chooses to use their personal wheelchair budget within the NHS commissioned services and the service purchases and provides the chair. This also offers the option for contributions to the personal wheelchair budget to enhance the wheelchair people can access. For example, someone may be eligible for a powered wheelchair, but they would like to have a seat riser added. The person can have the powered wheelchair provided by the NHS, but then pay the difference to have a seat riser added. Sometimes this is referred to as a ‘top up’ voucher. A person can pay for the addition or approach a charity or other funding body. The Wheelchair Repairs Service would still be responsible for servicing the wheelchair, but should any parts need replacing on the additional elements, the cost will be charged to the patient.

Third party personal wheelchair budget

The third party personal wheel chair budget would have been known previously as an independent voucher. The independent provider receives the personal budget by invoicing the NHS. This may also be contributed to as above.

The wheelchair user will own the wheelchair and be responsible for its maintenance and repair.

If you are using the wheelchair service and are interested in the voucher scheme, please ask your clinician for more information.

Once you have chosen the personal health budget route, unless your clinical needs or requirements change, you will not be eligible for another Personal Health Budget for the next 5 years.

Notional Personal Wheelchair Budget with top-up accessories

This option allows you to pay for agreed additions that the NHS does not fund to be fitted to NHS wheelchairs. For example, seat risers, or attendant controls on powered wheelchairs.

The NHS will own the wheelchair and fund maintenance - excluding any repairs/replacements to any top-up accessories. The cost of parts for these will be charged to you, however labour costs will not be charged.

 Personal Wheelchair Budget

 

 

These films were produced by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

A beginner’s guide to NHS wheelchairs – The Parts of a Wheelchair

A beginner’s guide to NHS wheelchairs – Using a Wheelchair

A beginner’s guide to NHS wheelchairs – Maintenance

A beginner’s guide to NHS wheelchairs – Your NHS Wheelchair

If you're referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS). Find out more about the HTCS.

 

I need a wheelchair to support my mobility. How can I get a wheelchair from the NHS?

The Wheelchair Service in your area is commissioned to provide equipment to any eligible individual.

You must be registered with a GP who resides within the commissioned area for the service.

Referrals for new patients can only be submitted by a registered healthcare professional, if you require a wheelchair, please speak initially to your GP who will make a referral to the service.

 

What types of wheelchairs are available through the NHS?

NHS wheelchair services are commissioned to provide a range of manual & self-propelled wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs, postural paediatric buggies and specialist seating.

 

If I live in a care home, am I eligible for a wheelchair through the NHS?

NHS wheelchair services do not provide transit only chairs for care home residents. These should be provided by the care home directly for your use.

 

What happens after the Wheelchair Assessment Service receives a referral from my healthcare provider?

Your referral is initially assessed against the commissioned eligibility criteria, and you will receive a questionnaire which will support our understanding of your needs.

If you are eligible to receive an NHS wheelchair, you will be contacted directly by the wheelchair service to progress your referral.

 

How long does it usually take to get a wheelchair through the NHS?

NHS wheelchair services are commissioned to deliver equipment within 18 weeks of the receipt of your referral.

 

What happens if I am not eligible for a wheelchair through the NHS?

If you are not eligible to receive an NHS wheelchair, both you and your GP will be informed and provided with a reason by the Wheelchair Service.

In addition, you will be signposted to alternative providers such as charitable organisations in the local area who may be able to support you further.

 

Can I get a powered wheelchair to use outside?

NHS Wheelchair services do not provide powered wheelchairs for outdoor use only.

If you are looking for outdoor mobility equipment you can find further support from Mobility UK.

 

What criteria make me eligible for a powered wheelchair?

• You will need a powered wheelchair referral to be completed by your GP/Healthcare provider.
• You will be required to complete and submit a powered wheelchair questionnaire.
• You will be required to complete a powered wheelchair driving assessment.
• You will need to comply with the government DVLA guidelines for powered chair users.
• Your home or place of residence will need to be environmentally assessed to confirm that it is suitably accessible for a powered wheelchair.

 

What are the government DVLA guidelines for powered chair users?

DVLA Guidelines for Powered Chair Users specify that the individual must be:

• Free from conditions causing loss of consciousness and epileptic seizures in waking hours within the past year, in line with DVLA requirements for motor vehicle drivers.
• Free from any combination of medical conditions and treatments likely to make independent powered wheelchair control unsafe for themselves, pedestrians or other road users.
• Have a field of vision of 120 degrees in a horizontal plane and 20 degrees above this plane.

 

I no longer need my NHS wheelchair. How do I return it?

Please contact the Wheelchair Services and a member of our team will make arrangements for your wheelchair to be collected within the next 7 working days.

 

My relative / partner no longer needs the NHS wheelchair. How do I return it?

Please contact the Wheelchair Services and a member of our team will make arrangements for your wheelchair to be collected within the next 7 working days.

 

I have a pressure sore from using my wheelchair. What should I do?

Please contact the wheelchair services and a member of the customer service team will raise a clinical referral for you.

A member of the wheelchair clinical service team will be in contact with you within 3 working days.

 

What do I do if there is a problem with my current wheelchair?

Please contact the wheelchair service repair and maintenance customer service team who will triage your problem and agree the next steps with you.

 

Can my assessment for a wheelchair be carried out at home?

The NHS wheelchair services are outpatient services, and your clinical assessments will be carried out within our clinical facilities.

All our clinical facilities are easily accessible, have on-site parking and can accept hospital or ambulance transport.

Our clinic rooms have equipment to support transferring, manual handling, and hoisting.

If you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the wheelchair service.

In exceptional cases, home assessments can be arranged, but these will require your GP / Healthcare professional to submit a separate medical questionnaire to support the request.

Please note home visit requests may elongate your referral to treatment timeline.