What to consider when buying a wheelchair
Think about your needs and make a list of any challenges you have getting around and tasks that you find most difficult. Consider any non-negotiable features your wheelchair must have.
It can also help to think about:
- Will you push yourself/get pushed by someone?
- How often will you use your chair and for what length of time?
- Will it need to be able to be transported?
- Will you need to use it indoors or outdoors or both?
- What is your budget?
- How much it will cost to maintain and repair?
- Do you need something custom-made?
Please note, if you decide to purchase your own wheelchair privately, we will not be able to support with the funding in retrospect.
Please inform the Wheelchair Service if you do decide to purchase privately so that we can take you off the waiting list.
Personal health budget
The Personal Health Budget Scheme (formally the Voucher Scheme) is available to anyone who meets equipment provision criteria and would like an alternative to the wheelchairs we provide.
With a personal wheelchair budget, wheelchair users should expect to have:
- a personalised assessment where they are supported to identify the health and wellbeing outcomes they wish to achieve
- a care plan which captures the health and wellbeing outcomes identified, which may be part of any wider care plans the person requires for their care, for example an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan
- care that is better integrated, meaning that different agencies work together to support their postural and mobility needs and achieve their health and wellbeing outcomes
- information provided upfront about the amount of money available in their personal wheelchair budget and the options available to them locally to use it
- information about the repair and maintenance of wheelchairs, if the option to purchase a wheelchair outside of the NHS commissioned service is taken
Learn more about personal wheelchair budgets
If you are using the wheelchair service and are interested in the voucher scheme, ask your clinician for more information.
Once you have chosen the personal health budget route, unless your clinical needs or requirements change, you will not be eligible for another Personal Health Budget for the next 5 years.
There are 2 types of Personal Health Budget’s that can be used in our service:
- Notional wheelchair budget
- Third-party wheelchair budget
