Wheelchairs and related equipment are provided through a number of different channels depending upon its primary purpose - especially whether it is for permanent loan or temporary use.

Most statutory provision of wheelchairs is carried out by, or through, the wheelchair service. This is part of the health authority or hospital trust and is organised on a district-wide basis. Often based at the local district hospital, it is able to provide wide range of wheelchairs and cushions.

• Referral: referral to the wheelchair service can be made by a range of professionals including therapists, nurses and doctors. The prescription, however, needs to be undertaken by expert prescribers, i.e. they are accredited or recognised therapists or sometimes specialised nurses, hospital consultants or GPs.
• Eligibility criteria: apart from the basic criterion of limited walking ability, a number of other criteria are employed for obtaining a wheelchair. These however may vary between centres and at different times of the year.
• Range of equipment available: a wide range of equipment is available.

  A standard range of manual wheelchairs is obtainable from the wheelchair services which are bought through a central contract system. However, high performance models, adapted wheelchairs, and occasionally 'bespoke' wheelchairs can be provided. Their availability may be affected by the state of the budget.

  Powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs are provided to severely disabled people who meet the local eligibility criteria. This usually includes the user being unable to propel a manual wheelchair, benefiting from an improved quality of life, and being able to control the chair safely.

  Powered attendant-propelled chairs can also be provided if it is hard for the carer to push the user out of doors.

  The wheelchair service is able to provide a wheelchair which is more expensive than that which would usually be supplied and you can pay the difference in cost.

  Similarly, standard cushions, special cushions and special seating are available. These require varying levels of assessment and authorisation.

  Seating systems may be provided by special seating clinics. Ramps, stairlifts, hoists etc, may be provided by the local social services department usually after an assessment by an occupational therapist.

Equipment that can be funded through the education service should be needed primarily for education and includes access devices, such as ramps, adaptations to school premises, wheelchairs for mobility at school, as well as other writing, speech and computer equipment. It could be equipment for an individual such as a wheelchair or cushion, or equipment for common use around a school, e.g. ramps, platform lifts and stairlifts. In theory, the equipment should be used for educational purposes only.

Employment equipment and adaptations are defined as any equipment which is primarily for the purposes of meeting an employment need. This could include wheelchairs and cushions, ramps, short rise lifts, stairlifts etc.

For information regarding employment equipment and adaptations go to:

• Jobcentre Plus (www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk) in England, Wales and Scotland
• Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs), who work from local Jobcentres and who, as well as providing a wide range of advice and help to people who have particular difficulties in finding or keeping work because of a disability, can also advise on how to obtain equipment for employment
• the Access to Work scheme provides support to: overcome work-related obstacles of disability; enables disabled people to compete for and in employment on an equal basis with their non-disabled colleagues; and offers practical help to employers in order to encourage them to recruit and retain disabled people.

  Help given will depend on the needs of the individual, and may take the form of special aids or equipment, adaptations to premises and equipment, communication support at interviews, assistance for fares to work, vehicle adaptations, personal reader service, support workers or any other help that may be relevant.

• Statutory provision: if the wheelchair is needed only temporarily, a standard issue chair may be supplied through a number of channels. Three months is probably the average maximum loan period and the chairs are usually loaned free of charge. They may be obtained through the following sources: hospital loan via hospital in-patient loan, hospital discharge wheelchair loan, and hospital wheelchair pools; conmmunity nursing services; and district wheelchair service
• Voluntary organisation provision: organisations such as the Red Cross sometimes loan standard manual wheelchairs on a temporary basis from local branches. The deposit and hire charges may vary
• Private hire: a number of private hire firms make daily/weekly/monthly hire charges which may vary in amount and in the conditions attached.

• Private purchase: this might be preferred either because you wish to buy privately, or because the statutory services are unable to provide the item you require
• Second-hand equipment: especially wheelchairs, scooters and buggies, can be bought through commercial suppliers. Although the equipment tends to be more expensive that it would be if bought from a private individual, usually it has been overhauled and may carry a guarantee of up to 12 months.
• Funding from charitable sources

Before buying, try to see and try out the equipment. You should arrange to visit a Disabled Living Centre (DLC) which are run by Assist (www.assist-uk.org). DLCs have a wide range of equipment on display and can provide you with information on wheelchairs and related equipment.

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