1 reply to this topic

[jane]

OK. need a moan.

i came out of hospital in october with a hired wheelchair (horrible heavy thing) as i am incomplete c5 and can walk with crutches for short distances and i suppose the hospital expected me to improve. in january mu ot (who is looking after my hand) referred me to wheelchaire services for a wheelchair as i had to take the hired one back and i needed one so i could go out and about. (and a lighter one i could push). Anyway in march one arrived at my house by the contractor - i did have a phone call a week later saying that i would get an appointment with the engineering clinic so that they could check that thte chair was suitable to my needs and i was urgent.

I rang them last week and was told that i will be seen at end of june sometime.

I pointed out that as i am not using armrests my clothes get dirty from wheels when i go out (which i told them in march and they say they didn't know) and that i can't push the chair very well due to my weakness in my left arm.

they will look at everything in june, make some thing to go on chair (when they measure it in june).

am i being unreasonable expecting a chair i could at least push!!!.

I was referred to the spinal unit in march and they said my chair needed sorting and at that point i hadn't got this new chair. but i am not due back there until october/november for a few days so don't know what they can do.

or again am i just being unreasonable.

[Apparelyzed]

Hi Jane,

You know what they say, "the squeeky wheel gets the oil"!

Contact Wheelchair services in writing and tell them the wheelchair is not suitable for your needs and is restricting your independance.

Tell them you will be holding them responsible for any accidents and damages resulting from the unsuitability of your wheelchair.

Make sure you put this in a letter, not by telephone, and tell them you want to hear back from them within 7 days before looking at what options are available to get your wheelchair sorted.

Be thorough, explaining in the most negative terms how this is affecting you, and your health.

Remember to include the dates of when you recieved the chair, and when you were given an appointment to have it adjusted, therefor stating that the time period you have had this unsuitable wheelchair is unreasonable.

This ultimaum usually gets things moving.

Good luck,

Simon.