Frequently Asked Questions
- Do I qualify for a wheelchair assessment from Birmingham Wheelchair Service? o I have a Birmingham GP?
- Do I need a wheelchair for more than 6 months?
- Will I use the wheelchair 5 times a week or more, for an hour or more at a time?
- Do I have a medical condition which affects my ability to walk in the home or outdoors?
If you answer yes to all of the above questions you should complete a referral form and send it to the service.
You can contact the service to request a paper referral form or use the form below.
What happens after referral has been made?
Screening of referrals
Every referral we receive is ‘screened’ by a clinical team member to ensure the referral meets the above criteria. If the form is fully completed and there is enough information for us to identify appropriate equipment we will have this delivered to you.
If we need to show you more complex equipment or assess you further, we will arrange to see you in clinic or visit you at home. We will contact you with appointment details.
If we are unable to assess you for equipment because you don’t meet the service criteria we will send you a letter explaining the reason we are unable to help. In the event you might disagree with our decision you should discuss this with the person who filled out the referral form. Our decision is based on the information they have provided.
We will also send you information including
- Hire of manual wheelchairs
- What to look for if you want to buy a wheelchair
What type of wheelchair can we provide?
We may also need to consider:
- Supportive seating
- Pressure relief
- Some accessories
These will be discussed at the point of assessment.
Reference will be made to the full specification for further details if necessary.
What don’t we provide?
- Scooter, tricycles, sports wheelchairs
- Electrically powered wheelchairs for outdoor use only
- Where the need for the equipment is predominately for the Carer e.g. powerpack or attendant controlled powered wheelchair
- Transit wheelchairs for use in nursing or residential homes
- Accessories
- Trays
- Rain covers
- Sun shades
- Walking stick holders
- Lights
Useful links
These will be discussed at the point of assessment.
Reference will be made to the full specification for further details if necessary.
http://www.dlf.org.uk/ Disabled Living Foundation – impartial advice, information and training on independent living
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/ SSAFA The Armed Forces Charity provides lifelong support to anyone who is currently serving or has ever served in the Royal Navy, British Army or Royal Air Force.
http://www.whizz-kidz.org.uk/ Wizz Kidztransform the lives of disabled children by providing the vital equipment, support and life skills they need to reach their full potential.
http://www.rica.org.uk/content/mobility Rica is a UK consumer research charity. We provide practical unbiased information based on research with older and disabled people.
How long do I have to wait?
When Birmingham Wheelchair Service is able to provide equipment from the screening process (see above) it is usually supplied from stock and delivered in 2 to 3 weeks. If the equipment needed is a non-stocked size we will have to order it for you and supply will be approximately 6 to 8 weeks.
However, if you need to be seen to be assessed for a wheelchair, Birmingham Wheelchair Service currently has a waiting list for an appointment. This is due to a high level of demand. At present you could wait approximately 6 months for an appointment within the non-urgent category. An urgent appointment is currently a wait of approximately 12 weeks.
Birmingham Wheelchair Service has a number of improvement projects in progress aimed to improve delivery and waiting times. Any improvement in waiting times will be updated on the website.
How can I change my appointment?
If you need to rearrange your appointment, please contact the Wheelchair Service as soon as possible on 0121 466 3220 or email the service on Birmingham.Wheelchairs@NHS.net
Our appointments are in great demand and we are able to offer your cancelled appointment to someone else if we have enough notice.
Where will I be seen?
We primarily hold clinics at our base:
West Midlands Rehabilitation Centre
91 Oak Tree Lane
Selly Oak
Birmingham
B29 6JA
Assessments can be carried out in your home, school or college particularly when it is important to see the environment where the wheelchair will be used.
What will happen at my appointment?
The clinical team consists of Occupational Therapists and Rehabilitation Engineers. You will be informed by letter who will be present at your appointment.
During your appointment you will have an opportunity to discuss your mobility needs and what you want to be able to achieve. The clinicians will discuss any relevant postural, pressure relief, mobility and social issues.
In clinic we are able to show examples of equipment and offer the chance for you to try them.
By the end of your appointment we would hope to agree what equipment we are able to supply and give you an idea of how long this may take.
Once the equipment is available it will be supplied to you:
- By our repair and delivery contractor (Rosscare) direct to your home
or
- By the clinicians either in clinic or at your home /school/day centre etc
We will contact you to arrange the Hand over clinic or visit.
How do I maintain the wheelchair?
When the Wheelchair Service supplies equipment, it is on loan to you. You have a responsibility to keep it safe, clean and check it on a regular basis. Birmingham Wheelchair Service has a duty of care to repair and maintain it.
Birmingham Wheelchair Service contract repairs and maintenance of their wheelchairs to Rosscare Limited
You can contact them by telephone 0121 328 0227 or email birmingham@rosscare.co.uk
