Getting a wheelchair

If your spinal cord injury makes walking difficult or impossible, you’re likely to need a wheelchair and a suitable cushion. The NHS can provide wheelchair equipment for anyone deemed eligible following assessment from a qualified therapist.

The process is similar across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, although the funding set up differs slightly across the three nations: 

> In England, the NHS wheelchair service (WCS) is a regionally controlled service. Each WCS is associated with a GP surgery or NHS Trust in your local area. 

NHS WHEELCHAIR SERVICES (ENGLAND)

> In Wales the posture and mobility service is a national service with a central referral system. See Wheelchair Service (Cardiff and Vale University Health Board)

WHEELCHAIR SERVICE (wales)

The same applies in Northern Ireland where, although the service is called the Regional Wheelchair Service it’s also a national service with a central referral system. 

WHEELCHAIR SERVICE (Northern ireland)

This information sheet doesn’t cover NHS wheelchair services in Scotland. If you live in Scotland, you can find out more www.retis.scot.nhs.uk/wheelchair

WHEELCHAIR SERVICE (scotland)

Accessing NHS wheelchair services 

When you first access NHS wheelchair services, you’ll need a referral from a healthcare professional (HCP), such as your GP, hospital consultant or therapist. To arrange this, talk with your HCP about your mobility concerns and request a referral. Indeed, your HCP may have already suggested it. If you live in England, it’s your GP’s address that will dictate which wheelchair service you’re referred to. Any HCP involved in your care can tell you your local wheelchair service, and access and complete the referral form.

Once your referral is received by the wheelchair service, they will look at the information alongside the WCS eligibility criteria. If you meet the criteria at this stage, they will then invite you for an assessment appointment. This is an important step where a wheelchair therapist works with you to thoroughly consider your needs and decide what equipment best suits you.

To get the most from this assessment, and the equipment that’s right for your needs, it’s important to be very open and realistic about your lifestyle and your wishes. We recommend you bring questions with you. Take a look at some resources to help you prepare for the assessment.

WHEELCHAIR ASSESSMENT

Your wheelchair services therapist will discuss with you:

• your health, strength, posture, and daily needs
• where you’ll use the wheelchair (home, work, outdoors, transport)
• seating and cushions for comfort and pressure relief

During the assessment, you may be measured and asked to try out different wheelchairs and cushions.

Once registered with your local wheelchair service, you remain under the service for life – so you can ask for advice or reassessment if your needs change. Even if you choose to buy a wheelchair privately, you’ll still be able to benefit from your WCS’ advice and reassessment if your needs change; for example, as you get older.

Eligibility

Every wheelchair service has ‘eligibility criteria’ to try and provide an equitable service for everyone. You can read more about eligibility criteria below, or visit your local WCS website for details. People with complete or partial paralysis usually meet eligibility requirements. Even if you can walk short distances, you may qualify if walking is unsafe, exhausting, or risks your health.

These are the general rules for eligibility. You may qualify for an NHS wheelchair if you:

• have a permanent disability (including spinal cord injury) that makes walking difficult or unsafe
• have a mobility need expected to last at least 6 months
• need a wheelchair for daily use inside your home, not just outdoors
• are registered with a local GP
• can use the wheelchair safely, either independently or with support from a carer

Who may not be eligible? … people who:

• only need a wheelchair temporarily / short-term (e.g. after surgery)
• manage indoors without one, but want one for occasional outdoor use
• want sport or leisure wheelchairs (these must be bought privately)

If you aren’t eligible, NHS wheelchair services can still give you advice and point you to reputable suppliers. You can also appeal a decision or ask for a review. Support is available from the Wheelchair Alliance

Types of wheelchair

Walking aids, mobility scooters and sports wheelchairs are generally not provided by NHS wheelchair services. Instead, they supply people who meet the eligibility criteria with either:

• a manual wheelchair – self-propelled or attendant-propelled, or
• a powered wheelchair – for people unable to self-propel

During your WCS assessment, your NHS therapist will identify the type of wheelchair that best suits your needs. You can find out more about each type via the relevant link below. In addition, having the right seating and cushion – and reviewing this regularly – is crucial to support your posture and prevent pressure sores. Download SIA information sheets about manual and powered wheelchairs, and seating and cushions:

INFORMATION SHEETS

Funding options

When you’re assessed for a wheelchair, it’s a bit like getting a prescription from the doctor. Provided you meet the eligibility criteria, your WCS therapist will identify the type of wheelchair and cushion that will best meet your needs and essentially write you a ‘prescription’ to suit.

The therapist will then talk to you about your personal wheelchair budget (PWB) and the options available to you. You’ll hear the terms notional, partnership and third party. Here’s a brief explanation of what each option means:

Notional:

You can choose to go with the standard NHS provision (your wheelchair, but owned and maintained by the NHS).

Partnership:

Or you might choose to upgrade aspects of your wheelchair, e.g. different wheels. If you go down this route, then you’ll need to foot the bill for any extras, although you might find that charities will fund the additional costs. However, don’t forget that any extras may not be covered by the NHS maintenance and repair service.

Third party: 

Alternatively, you could choose to have the value of your prescription (or personal wheelchair budget) passed directly to a reputable, private wheelchair supplier, then top it up for a more bespoke wheelchair. Remember, if you go down this route, you’re solely responsible for all maintenance, repairs, insurance, etc.

Find out more by searching ‘NHS England personal wheelchair budgets’