Pan-hospital wheelchair service

The Pan-hospital wheelchair service supports inpatients in order to optimise their recovery and to facilitate discharge from hospital.

Some children may require the loan of a buggy or wheelchair to facilitate their management following an operation. Others may need some additional seating support or assistance after illness or injury.

Referrals to the wheelchair service can be made by clinical staff from across the hospital. Referrals are screened and allocated as appropriate. An occupational therapist will assess the child’s functional needs, mobility and postural control and then provide a loan wheelchair, if indicated. When appropriate, a referral will be made to the local wheelchair service to arrange long term wheelchair provision.

Where a short term loan of a standard wheelchair is needed the family may be advised to borrow a wheelchair from either The Red Cross (if available) or hire one from a local wheelchair dealer. The occupational therapist can advise the family regarding this.