Surrey resident confined to home due to poor wheelchair service

B, is a young woman who uses a powered wheelchair. B has written articles for magazines, websites, guest posts and been interviewed on the TV and radio. B is a public speaker and has been featured in many newspaper articles. B works part time and is a fundraiser and campaigner.

B was referred to Surrey Wheelchair Services for a new powerchair. (Her current one is nearly 13 years old) B received a letter from her consultant which confirmed she needs certain functions in her wheelchair with an agreement to provide a Q500 front wheeled drive (with tilt in space, recline, electric leg elevation and extension, and powered seat lift).

B is 6ft 1 tall and has also had her Motability wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) for 12 years as they could not find another one she could fit in. B got a new WAV in May last year (which was on order for 18 months), so the next stage was to try the Q500 powerchair in her WAV and house. The Chair came in August and didn’t fit in the WAV and was too long for the lift on the WAV, so a complicated method of raising the seat up and down to get in, having to take off the head rest and then having her head squashed sideways against the ceiling, stuck so much that when she tried to put her head back on the headrest, now reinserted she couldn’t get it back.

B Was told she could either stick with her existing powerchair (which is 13 years old and breaking- so not an option) or have a personal wheelchair budget (PWB). B has since been offered PWB for the powerchair and 5 years servicing.

B understood that the new wheelchair services should have three options: 

1. You have their wheelchair they own it and service/maintain it.

2. You have their wheelchair but pay for an upgrade to one they have on offer or additional features they don’t think are clinically necessary but you want/will help you and they own and maintain it.

3. You have a PWB to the value it would have cost them to provide you with a wheelchair that meets your needs. You own it and service/maintain it.

This is very concerning because B has not been given a choice. B can’t get another WAV due to her height and pain. If B cannot get into her WAV she is unable to leave the house. This means that aged 31, B is effectively being confined to her house. Unable to go out, go to work, physio, hydro, hospital appointments, shopping, see friends or have a life. 

B has already spent four years of her life in hospital and to be unable to go out in the world is unacceptable. B’s life should not be restricted due to lack of suitable, essential, equipment. B cannot reduce her height which seems to be the main reason why she cannot have a fully funded functional powerchair that meets her needs. Surrey should provide a wheelchair service for all which adapts to individual needs and circumstances. Instead, we have another Surrey resident confined to home when she should be living an independent and full life.