Discussion into improvements wheelchair services on NHS at Expo this week
- Sep 10, 2015
- EmmaArnold
A wheelchair campaign was discussed at the Health and Care Innovation Expo in Manchester this week.
The NHS programme, supported by Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, aims to improve the lives of wheelchair users.
My Voice, My Wheelchair, My Life is a campaign trying to transform wheelchair services for users and their families so they can get the right wheelchair for their changing needs.
The programme wants people with long term conditions to be able to access the right wheelchair quickly as people often find themselves waiting a long time with the relevant support throughout.
They can then sometimes develop secondary health complications from using an unsuitable wheelchair such as pressure sores.
At the NHS Expo, Dame Tanni explained how improvements are needed even though NHS England have launched this programme as a wheelchair is her independence.
Gary Herbert, Senior Solicitor at PotterReesDolan, said:
It is clearly important for all wheelchair users to be listened to in terms of their individual needs and this campaign is an important aspect to encouraging and reminding the NHS of what should be a simple concept. Frequently the expert on a wheelchair is not the therapist, but the user themselves who can advise how a chair fits with their lifestyle or local environment.
For newly injured wheelchair users this may be more complicated but it is important that they are informed of the differing options so that they can be empowered to reach the decisions for themselves, rather than for people to reach decisions on their behalf. The importance of considering a wheelchair user’s views and in educating them about the choices and options available is vital.