Wheelchair matters

[PeterPan]

I’m at the ‘wobbly and slow’ stage. The local wheelchair service in Hertfordshire recently provided me with an Invacare TDX SP2 power wheelchair with attendant control, and rise and tilt functions. It’s extremely comfortable for use inside and out, is totally liberating, and has changed my life already. They also gave me an Invacare manual wheelchair as backup. It’s ok, but would be impossible for my wife Sue to push on broken pavements and up damaged kerbs. We haven’t even tried.

Could you use a power wheelchair? Various control systems are available. If so, has your local wheelchair service offered one? If not, I would definitely ask why they haven’t. One thing that really annoys me is the variable provision people experience which seems to be randomly based on geography.

[Ellie]

Sorry to hear you’re needing wheels Andy.

The problem with a ‘transit wheelchair’ is that, regardless of what the marketing blurb says, they're not designed for long-term use or full-on outdoor use. The are lightweight by design - they are always pushed by someone, so their selling points are weight and manoeuvrability, hence the lightweight frame and wheels, which are ideal in hospitals and shopping centres, not so much on anything more challenging than a super smooth footpath. Some chairs have stronger frames and more robust wheels, but I don’t know if these more expensive chairs are normally supplied.

The ‘self-propelled’ chairs, many of which come with push handles, are more robust being designed for full-time use, but they are heavier chairs so may not be a practical or pleasant option for the person pushing - these chairs have the big rear wheels, like the one posted above, I don’t know if the user can self-propel or is pushed.

In the absence of a supplied powerchair and, taking your hand function into account, have you looked at any second hand powerchairs or small mobility scooters? xx

[Daniel Fudge-Harman]

I had a G Logic one which had bike tires on. I needed something a little more robust for watching my son play football on a Sunday afternoon.https://glebehealthcare.co.uk/produc...29230779891814

[denise]

I'm thinking the same thing. Broken pavements. Uneven kerbs. Caterpillar wheels might do it. It's a nightmare out there and that was just a walk to local shop. 🤤

[nunhead_man]

Good evening,

Just dropping back in after a rather busy time as we finally get our house sorted out.

I'm just at the stage where my walking is becoming wobbly enough to warrant wheelchair referral.

The local wheelchair service has provided me with a manual wheelchair which we found a little difficult on a test run due to the small size of its wheels which led to us almost bending the location points of the front wheels when going down a curb into the gutter and out again

Do the panel have any recommendations for a manual wheelchair that might be more robust for what seemed to be almost unending uneven pavements?