"To be without my electric chair has been stressful and isolating"

I was given a new electric wheelchair at the beginning of July this year, which broke down after 1 month. It was immediately repaired at my home.  However, a few days later, when pressing the tilt mechanism backwards, I was stuck in that position and couldn't get the chair back down.

On phoning WestMARC, I was told they didn't have anything in place to send anyone out to get me out of the chair and that they couldn't come out to me before the weekend, nor provide a replacement chair as an emergency stop gap.

I also contacted the emergency call out service (Falkirk Council MECS), who told me that they were unable to cover such an emergency.

I was stuck in the chair on my own for around an hour and had no way of getting help until my carers and daughter and grand-daughter arrived. Between them, they struggled to get me out of the electric chair and in to a manual chair I have. However, the next day an engineer attended, took the chair away and brought it back the day after.

I believe there should be something in place to cover such situations, i.e. emergency breakdown cover for people who are completely reliant on their chair, and a replacement electric chair as I really struggle to push the manual chair round the house. Consequently after doing so, I could only sit in my kitchen before my chair was repaired. I am wheelchair bound, reliant on it for my independence, and mobility around my home. I have carers visit 4 times a day.

My electric chair again broke down at the end of September caused by the same issue. Fortunately, I called my DIY man who was in the area and he came to help me into my manual chair. I knew there would be no-one to help at WestMARC at a weekend and so had no option, but to call them at the beginning of next week. I was told it would be reported and the engineer would call me back. I didn't get a call back that day so called them again a few days later and was told that engineers were looking into the problem.

I told them that I found it difficult pushing my manual chair around the house. The staff member on the phone indicated that I have carers and family coming in, and I had a manual chair, which could be pushed about by them. I couldn't believe they had said this to me. At this point, I was distraught and frustrated at these comments, so my daughter took over calling WestMARC.

I was later informed that WestMARC would come out on later in the week, however, Mick the engineer phoned me a day earlier to say he was in the area, could see me on his worksheet for the following day, and asked if he could come round and pick the chair up to start working on it in the workshop. He worked on the chair and it was returned to me on by next morning. He was extremely helpful.

To be without my electric chair for almost 2 weeks has been stressful, isolating and has caused me additional pain and discomfort in my hands, arms and shoulders to the point, where I remained in the one room of my home whilst on my own.

I believe that there should be a system where clients who are wholly reliant on their electric chairs are 'flagged' as priority breakdowns and if work can't be done quickly, that replacement chairs are provided (although, I understand there are certain issues which would need to be taken into account).