Establishing Eligibility
The NHS has created a set of eligibility criteria for the wheelchair service. Referrals must meet the criteria to be accepted, so please read them carefully to make sure your client is eligible for the service.
A key requirement for a referral to our service is that your client has a long-term (defined as 6 months or longer) mobility problem and requires a wheelchair for permanent use because they are unable to walk functionally. (Shorter loan periods may be considered for individuals with a prognosis of fewer than 6 months’ life expectancy.)
If your client requires a short term loan of a wheelchair, please contact the Red Cross (other providers may be available).
Referral Forms
There are two referral forms available. Please choose a form for either:
- Manual wheelchairs, buggies, cushions, pressure care, and accessories
- Powered wheelchairs
Using the wrong form may result in your referral being delayed or rejected, so please make sure you select the correct form for your client’s needs.
You can complete our referral forms ‘on-screen’ using Adobe Acrobat software. This is available for free from Adobe. We recommend you “print to PDF” after completing your referral and send it to us using an encrypted email service.
Joint Appointments & Visits
We are always pleased to support the creation of a holistic care plan, as part of a Multidisciplinary Team. If you would like to work together, please provide details where indicated on the referral form. Including additional scheduling information by email when returning your form is very helpful.
Assessments normally need to be carried out at our service centres, so that we have direct access to specialist equipment and advice.
Please note that we require your client’s consent to invite you or any other professionals to any scheduled appointment.
Feedback
We want the Wheelchair & Repair Service experience to be excellent for all of our stakeholders. We believe you should be able to refer your clients to us quickly and easily.
Please let us know what you think we do well, and where you think we could improve. You can get in touch with us via the Contact Us page.