HNY Policy and Pathway Repository - Humber

The service will be provided to children, young people and adults with short and long-term mobility problems and associated postural needs, through short and long term loan of wheelchairs and associated equipment. This is available for service users who are:

• Temporarily experiencing reduced mobility through injury or surgery (short term loan under 6 months); or
•  As a result of long term condition/illness where mobility is compromised (long term loan 6 months +). 

Please inform the Integrated Wheelchair Service if a Powerchair user has experienced a seizure or blackout within the past 12 months. Continued use may be contraindicated.

Do Not Refer

Please do not refer patients in residential or nursing care who only require a wheelchair for outdoor use.

Exclusions:

Children under 36 months of age where it is anticipated babies and very young children’s mobility and postural needs can be met by commercially available buggies purchased by families therefore should not be referred to the wheelchair service.

Standard wheelchairs and associated equipment will not be supplied to nursing and residential homes, short break settings, hospice facilities, schools, colleges and places of work; with the exception whereby short–term loan (less than 6-months) of wheelchairs and equipment can be provided to service users to enable hospital discharge/ independence for short term illness/mobility and following any re-ablement / rehabilitation plan as agreed with specialist services such as the intermediate care and long term conditions services.

Wheelchairs/buggies are not provided solely for managing challenging behaviour.

Wheelchairs for school use only will be provided by Education.

Wheelchairs for sporting activities only may be funded by charities.

Wheelchairs for transport purposes only may be provided by Transport services.

Electric powered wheelchairs for outdoor use only, either occupant controlled or attendant controlled, including add on power packs may be privately purchased or charity funded. 

Refer new wheelchair users using the Referral form on ARDENS. The service will be provided to children over 36 months, young people and adults with short and long-term mobility problems and associated postural needs, through short and long term loan of wheelchairs and associated equipment. This is available for service users who are:

• Temporarily experiencing reduced mobility through injury or surgery (short term loan under 6 months); or
• As a result of long term condition/illness where mobility is compromised (long term loan 6 months +).
• Referral for very young children under 36 months with severe disability need postural support will also be accepted for review.

Wheelchair users, family and carers can re-refer directly by calling the wheelchair service on 0344 8936375.  

Development of signs of pressure damage to skin related to sitting in a wheelchair - refer to wheelchair service.

Eligibility criteria

Local triage and procedure manual

Page 1 and 2 of GP Referral form mandatory for all referrals.
Page 3 is also mandatory for powered wheelchair referrals.