Long term wheelchair service
What is the long term wheelchair service?
The long term wheelchair service provides wheelchairs and related specialist seating to people who need the use of a wheelchair for 3 months or more, live in the county of Northumberland and are registered with a Northumberland GP.
The wheelchair service delivers, assesses for and provides over 3,000 wheelchairs to people in Northumberland every year. Wheelchairs and related accessories remain the property of the Care Trust but are issued on a permenant loan basis, and there is no charge.
Who is eligible?
The service is for people of all ages who have serious and permenant difficulties walking. This could be significant difficulty moving around the home or with longer distances outdoors. If you think you would benefit from equipment, you should ask your GP or any other health or social care professional who is involved in your care. Examples of health and social care professionals who can refer you include:
- GP
- care manager
- physiotherapist
- occupational therapist
- district nurse
What the service provides
The service provides a number of different wheelchairs, including electric wheelchairs and also provides push chairs and buggies for small children. After you have been referred to the service an occupational therapist will review your needs and decide which wheelchair is best for you.
Delivery of the wheelchair
We aim to deliver your wheelchair within seven working days of receiving an order. Please note, if you need special equipment that we do not hold in stock it may take considerably longer to deliver it to you. If you are concerned about how long you have been waiting please contact the professional who ordered the equipment.
Our delivery vans regularly go to all areas of the county and will deliver your equipment at the first suitable opportunity. We will phone you the day before we plan to deliver your equipment to check that you will be in.
Please note: our drivers are not able to show people how to use their equipment. You should not use your equipment until you have been shown how to use it safely and correctly by a health or social care professional. They will also show you how to care for and clean the equipment.
Returning the equipment
If you no longer need equipment you have borrowed from the long term wheelchair service you can arrange to have it collected or alternatively you can being it to us in Cramlington. Please call 01670 730595 for more information. We are open Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 5 pm)
Contact details
Long Term Wheelchair service
Northumberland NHS Care Trust
43 Colbourne Crescent
Nelson Park Industrial Estate
Cramlington
Northumberland
NE23 1WB
Tel: 01670 730595
Useful leaflets
If you need to request a copy in large print, or in another format or language please call 01670 394522.
