These vulnerable people have waited too long – it's time for action to be taken

Published on Monday 1 December 2008 18:41

Last week, at the Scottish Parliament, Quarriers raised this issue with the health spokesmen and women of the four main political parties. Trish Godman, the Labour MSP for the West Renfrewshire constituency in which Quarriers' HQ is located, chaired the event. She is a supporter of our "Going Nowhere" campaign, in which we are calling for immediate action for wheelchair users in three specific areas:

First, the immediate reinstatement of attendant-controlled powered wheelchairs for those who need them; second, a wheelchair service that meets the needs – medical, postural and social – of all wheelchair users; and third, fully-funded implementation of the recommendations of the "Moving Forward" review of NHS wheelchair and seating services in Scotland.

People with complex disabilities – physical, learning or both – are being excluded from the provision of electric powered wheelchairs if they are unable to operate the chairs themselves.

Due to funding, NHS provision of powered wheelchairs is limited to patient-controlled chairs. Those who require attendant-controlled powered chairs are provided with manual models, which, in many cases, are inadequate for their needs.

In two particular cases we know of, attendant-controlled powered chairs were removed and replaced with inferior manual models.

Despite extensive discussions, the Wheelchair Service was adamant it was no longer able to provide attendant-controlled chairs. In the interests of getting these two people mobile again, Quarriers provided the chairs from our own funds.

It used to be the case attendant-controlled electric wheelchairs were unpopular because they were bulky. As technology developed, many more people wanted one and this seemingly put such a strain on finances and the decision was taken to withdraw them.

Increasing concerns about the difficulties people were experiencing with wheelchairs led to Quarriers canvassing the people we support.

Responses were varied, and issues included faulty wheels, pressure sores caused by ill-fitting chairs and lengthy waits for assessment.

The Wheelchair Service is obviously one on which high demands are made. This is no excuse for offering a provision that falls far short of acceptable for many, and which results in the ability of people who use chairs to participate in community activities being compromised.

In 2005, a review of the Scottish Wheelchair Service was undertaken and this was published in 2006. It is now 2008, but we haven't moved forward at all. This review made a number of recommendations for improvements to the service, including:

&149 Services should address the lifestyle requirements of users and carers, ensuring maximum possible social inclusion;

&149 Service delivery should be based on holistic requirements and not coloured by available funding for equipment;

&#149 Financial considerations should not be a key issue.

While the Scottish spending review allocation of 16 million over three years is welcome, this falls far short of the costings of the 2005 review.

And although a project manager has been appointed to bring together an action plan, that work has only just been completed, some considerable time before there is any possibility of any action being taken.

It is unreasonable to expect some of the most vulnerable people in our communities to wait any longer.

&#149 Dr Phil Robinson is the chief executive of Quarriers. Its website is at www.quarriers.org.uk.