"Community Equipment Delivery - allow more time"

Despite repeated requests from my Occupational Therapist to ring me and let me know in advance when stores are delivering equipment, they never do.

Some people may not be bothered by equipment being left outside their property in full view of everyone passing. However, I am a very private person and i feel upset and embarrassed by it.

Although they knock the door when they arrive with the items, they only wait a very short time so I don’t have enough time to transfer to my wheelchair and go to the door. Although to be honest even if I’m already in my wheelchair they are still away by the time I get to the door.

The equipment being left is bulky and impossible to move when driving my wheelchair. If I happen to be out when an item is delivered the fact it’s left at the front door means I am unable to get into the house on my return, I can’t even get close enough to the front door to unlock it never mind actually get in.

A few months ago I had an item sitting for three days in the pouring rain before it was noticed and brought in. Again, I hadn’t been informed that my equipment was being delivered and instead of going up the ramp and leaving it at the front door where I would have seen it , they left it by the side door which has a high step up to it so is obviously not wheelchair accessible.

We are constantly hearing about the lack of funds in the health service and some of the equipment being delivered is far from cheap. I would imagine leaving such items in full view of anyone passing risks them being damaged or stolen etc and would have to be reissued/replaced.

I also worry that the lack of communication about delivery of equipment leaves vulnerable people open to scammers. it would be easy for anyone to simply knock on the door and state they are delivering the item, or say they were passing and noticed it sitting and offer to put it wherever it needs to be, and once inside steal valuables etc.