Wheelchairs

How do i get a Wheelchair?

A range of wheelchairs are available to provide you with greater comfort and safety with maximum mobility, making you less reliant, where possible, on carers and home help.

How do I get a Wheelchair?

There are four main ways of getting a wheelchair:

• Short-term loan - usually, when you will need a wheelchair for less than six months, you would like to try a wheelchair before you buy one or you are waiting for an assessment with your local NHS Wheelchair Service
• Long-term loan - when you are likely to need a wheelchair for more than six months
• Buying a new or second hand wheelchair
• Hiring a wheelchair

Once your need for a wheelchair has been identified, regardless of whether your disability is temporary or permanent, your GP, occupational therapist or physiotherapist can refer you to your local NHS Wheelchair Service (some services may also operate a self-referral system). There, you will be assessed by an occupational therapist who will ensure that you are provided with a suitable wheelchair.

The way the NHS Wheelchair Service is organised and provided varies across the UK. This can affect the type of wheelchair you are offered (if any) as well as the timescale in which it will be provided and the way it is funded. Normally, NHS wheelchairs are available on loan; various terms and conditions may apply to your loan, such as receiving a wheelchair for indoor or short-term use only, for example.

If you feel that the chair provided by your wheelchair service does not meet your needs, you can ask to be re-assessed. If you still feel that the chair offered is not what you want, then you may be able to get a different model through the Personal Wheelchair Budget. Your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) should be able to provide more information on provision in your area.

You should be aware that there could be long waiting lists for assessment through the NHS Wheelchair Service, as well as strict eligibility criteria that varies from region to region.

While you are waiting, you may want to ask your GP whether they have a wheelchair loan system or contact the British Red Cross or Shopmobility, both of which offer short-term support and products for independent living and may be able to provide you with a wheelchair on a short-term basis.

The right Wheelchair for your needs

Once your GP, occupational therapist or physiotherapist has referred you to the wheelchair service, your exact needs will be assessed.

The assessment may be carried out in your own home, at a clinic or in hospital, as well as at the service’s own centre, depending on your situation.

You will be assessed by a professional qualified in wheelchair assessment, such as an occupational therapist, who will possibly work with a rehabilitation engineer. The engineer will be able to make refinements, adjustments or modifications to wheelchairs to be sure that you get the chair that is right for you. For instance, you may have particular needs for special seating or for pressure-relieving cushions.

Where necessary, a specialist team can provide assessments if you have severe physical disabilities which make it difficult to use a standard wheelchair or controls. If your child needs a wheelchair, their assessment may include other professionals across the health, education and social services to ensure that the wheelchair can be used at school, on transport or for social activities. As a child’s parent or carer, you should be part of the assessment process and consulted on your views and opinions.

The NHS does everything possible to tailor wheelchairs to the needs of users. The best way to find out what type of wheelchair you need is to use one over a few weeks for your normal activities, such as getting around at home or in and out of the car. You may be able to borrow a wheelchair on a trial basis, although this may vary according to which Integrated care boards (ICB) you come under.

Usually, the NHS Wheelchair Service does not cover electric outdoor wheelchairs, electric scooters or specialist sports wheelchairs, for example, and you will probably have to buy these privately. It may be possible to arrange the loan of more than one wheelchair if it is necessary, for example, one for using at home and the other for use at work.

The types of Wheelchairs

There are three different types of wheelchairs:

• Self-propelled - controlled by user
• Attendant-propelled - steered by someone
• Electric powered - class 2 for pavement use and Class 3 for pavement and road use

With powered wheelchairs, a careful assessment is made with regard to safety and suitability as users must be fully competent to operate them without accident or injury.

There are strict rules about the supply of indoor/outdoor chairs. These are only provided to people who need them and who are not able to use a manual chair. There may also be a long delay before one can be supplied.

The NHS does not provide battery powered scooters or buggies.

How long does it take?

The length of time it takes for you to receive your wheelchair will vary according to how your local NHS Wheelchair Service is structured, the type of wheelchair to be provided and local resources. In some regions, you may be able to take a standard wheelchair away with you after your assessment, if the appropriate chair is in stock. The NHS aims to have your wheelchair with you within 18 weeks. However, this could be longer depending on individual circumstances. If you need a bespoke chair that requires special refinements or alterations, you may have to wait several months or longer for your chair.

See Short-term wheelchair use section to find out more about borrowing a wheelchair while you are waiting for your own to be supplied.

When your wheelchair is ready, it will be formally handed over to you with an explanation about how to use it (including safety issues), the relevant documentation and a point of contact for future enquiries, as well as information regarding insurance, repairs and maintenance (including details of who is responsible for this).

Advice on Transportation

Your local wheelchair service centre may be able to offer advice to you or a relative/carer on loading your wheelchair into a car or other vehicle and on ways in which you can travel in a vehicle whilst in your chair, if necessary.

Short-term Wheelchair use

You may only need a wheelchair for a limited period, perhaps because of an accident or other circumstances.

The British Red Cross or ShopMobility UK provide wheelchairs and other equipment on a temporary basis through its short-term support for independent living. You can buy equipment from the British Red Cross or ShopMobility UK mobility range; this includes walkers, shoppers, walking frames, walking sticks and wheelchairs.

You can find more details about the service at www.redcross.org.uk or www.shopmobilityuk.org

Personal Wheelchair Budget

The Personal Wheelchair Budget (PWB) system is active across England, having fully replaced the legacy NHS wheelchair voucher scheme NHS PWB Guidance. This model ensures individuals have significantly greater choice, control, and flexibility over the wheelchair they obtain.

Wheelchair budgets are commissioned by local Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and can be managed in one of four distinct ways NHS PWB Guidance:

Notional Personal Budget Wheelchair
The individual chooses to use their budget within NHS-commissioned services, and the local NHS wheelchair service purchases and provides the chair NHS PWB Guidance. This model allows for additional financial contributions to enhance or upgrade the equipment NHS PWB Guidance. These supplementary funds may come from self-funding, or through an integrated package with external agencies such as education, social care, voluntary groups, or charitable organisations (formerly known as a partnership voucher) NHS PWB Guidance.

Third Party Personal Wheelchair Budget
The individual chooses to source their wheelchair outside of standard NHS-commissioned services NHS PWB Guidance. An independent provider receives the personal budget directly by invoicing the NHS NHS PWB Guidance. As with the notional model, the budget can be combined with private or multiagency contributions to purchase a higher-specification chair (formerly known as an independent voucher) NHS PWB Guidance.

Third Party Personal Health Budget
An organisation that is legally independent of both the NHS and the individual holds the funds and manages the budget NHS PHB Guidance. This independent organisation handles the procurement of the wheelchair as part of a wider, coordinated package of health and social support NHS PHB Guidance.

Direct Payment
The budget holder receives the funds directly into a dedicated bank account and assumes legal responsibility for arranging their own equipment, care, and support, in line with an agreed personalised care plan NHS PHB Guidance.

Under current healthcare regulations, direct payments are not routinely available as an option for a standalone personal wheelchair budget NHS PHB Guidance. Therefore, where a direct payment is requested, it must either:

• Meet the full cost of the wheelchair, typically appropriate when wrapped into an NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding package NHS PHB Collection.
• Form part of a broader, integrated package of care that clearly demonstrates how the health and wellbeing outcomes require a joint contribution via a separately commissioned service NHS PHB Collection.

Buying your own Wheelchair

If you are not eligible for a personal wheelchair budget or you are unhappy with the chairs you have been offered, you can choose to rent or buy a wheelchair yourself. Voluntary organisations and charities such as the British Red Cross or Shopmobility may work in partnership with NHS Wheelchair Services to provide a greater choice of wheelchairs. You may also choose to rent or buy through a private company.

Before buying, it is advisable to consult one of the trade associations that monitor its members’ products and practices. One such association is the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA), which represents over 400 companies in the healthcare and assistive technology industry. (see Useful Contacts/Organisations Section for contact details). The BHTA can provide information about mobility vehicle distributors as well as other useful information. They currently publish a series of free Get Wise leaflets that may be of particular interest when choosing mobility options.

It is worth noting that organisations, such as Whizz-Kidz and Go Kids Go!, provide wheelchair skills training.

Your Local Wheelchair Service Centre

Your local integrated care board can give you details of your nearest Wheelchair Service Centre. Alternatively, you can call NHS Choices on 111 or visit the website www.nhs.uk for links to information about your local NHS services.

Workplace Support and the Access to Work Scheme

You can contact your local Jobcentre Plus office and ask to speak with a Disability Employment Adviser (DEA).

The DEA will be able to give you advice about:

• Sourcing job vacancies and advocating on your behalf with disability-confident employers.
• Identifying necessary workplace adjustments, such as physical adaptations to premises.
• Identifying specialised equipment required for your role, including specialised, lightweight, or powered wheelchairs.

DEAs can also guide you through the Access to Work Scheme. Access to Work is a discretionary government grant that pays for practical supportincluding specialist equipment, vehicle adaptations, support workers, and commuting costs-to help you start or stay in work.

Please note that you do not have to visit a Jobcentre to access this financial support. If you are already employed, self-employed, or have a confirmed job offer, you can apply directly online or via telephone by visiting the official GOV.UK Access to Work Portal.