Wheelchair service

The wheelchair service provides a comprehensive service within the Buckinghamshire locality to adults and children with long term mobility problems through the assessment, provision and maintenance of equipment for specialist seating, mobility and pressure care.

There are approximately 7,500 service users within Buckinghamshire. This is a predominantly community based service and assessments are carried out in a variety of locations, including schools and rehabilitation units. The repair, storage, collection, delivery, and refurbishment of wheelchairs is contracted out to a separate company.

We offer an open referral system so service users can refer themselves by telephoning, emailing or faxing into the service. Professionals are requested to fill in a referral form. All referrals are triaged. The service operates from Amersham - tel: 01494 734046 or fax: 01494 734746

For more information, click the links below:

Bucks wheelchair service eligibility criteria (opens in a new window)
Approved repairer details (opens in a new window)
Short loan information (opens in a new window)
Suppliers (opens in a new window)
Wheelchair assessments
Pressure care
Powered wheelchairs
Voucher scheme
Postural management

For short-term loans of wheelchairs, please contact:

• Red Cross
• St John’s Ambulance 
• Shop Mobility

Specialist services include:

Wheelchair assessments
The wheelchair service currently operates clinics for clients requiring wheelchairs for use indoors. The service initially send out questionnaires to ascertain basic information if the client is unknown to the service, before a client is invited to attend a clinic. If the requirement is a standard issue, a wheelchair is usually delivered with five working days. The technician will demonstrate the parts of the wheelchair and make adjustments to suit.

Pressure care
A wide variety of pressure relieving cushions are supplied for users, including those who have their own wheelchairs.  Before a cushion is supplied, factors such as posture, transfers, comfort, durability as well as pressure are taken into account. A certain number of types, variety and sizes of cushion are kept in stock but they are usually ordered for specific client use.

Powered wheelchairs
There is detailed criteria for users requiring indoor and indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs. Details of the criteria can be accessed by contacting the department. The service are unable to fund outdoor use only powered wheelchairs and attendant controlled powered wheelchairs.

However we do offer vouchers for powered wheelchairs to suitable candidates who wish for higher specification wheelchairs. We always assess users in their home environment and clients are generally issued an indoor powered wheelchair to increase proficiency before undergoing an indoor/outdoor powered wheelchair assessment. There is no age barrier for use of a powered wheelchair.

Voucher scheme
There is an independent option for users who choose a wheelchair from an agreed supplier of a higher specification than that supplied through the wheelchair service. An agreement can be drawn up between the wheelchair service and the user, to provide the user with a voucher for a specific value, plus an estimated cost for maintenance. 

The wheelchair is then owned by the user who is also responsible for the maintenance for a minimum period of five years for adults and three years for a child.  A voucher is not usually given to a client with a deteriorating condition as the needs of the client may change within that definitive period.   

The partnership option is available for a user who wishes to have the security of NHS maintenance and repair services, and who would like to choose to contribute to the cost of a wheelchair from a range of wheelchairs selected by the wheelchair service, but of a higher specification than the wheelchair offered.  

A more detailed description of the voucher scheme is available by contacting the wheelchair service.

Postural management
The majority of the work undertaken by the service requires a postural management assessment with the provision of some postural support provided separately from the  wheelchair, or integral within the wheelchair/buggy.

Contoured seating systems are provided for highly complex clients and some of these clients are referred on to the specialist disability service at Oxford Centre for Enablement at the Nuffield Hospital in Oxford.