"Assessment for a wheelchair"

My Mother, who is now 84, had a massive Stroke 5 years ago.   Prior to the Stoke my Mother was proud, fiercely independent and in good health for her age.   She is an amazing individual, worked all her life, a great Mum and wife.   Sadly the Stoke took away her ability to ever walk again and brought on vascular dementia.   My Mother's current wheelchair was becoming uncomfortable and she was able to spend shorter periods of time in this chair therefore was spending more time in bed.   A referral for a new wheelchair was made by myself and her care home in September 2019, I was told at this time that there was a 9 month waiting list, just for a referral, which would take it up to summer 2020 however this was delayed again and so I called in September 2020 to be told due to coronaviras, there was a further delay of three months.   However I recently received a call from Occupational Therapist who had been to see Mum, and who was extremely helpful, explaining that they had recommended the care home provide a static chair, also highlighted the need for Mum to receive an assessment for new wheelchair and gave several reasons why.  

I then called the SMART centre to chase up the assessment, I was told Mum is near the top of the list and it has been agreed a video assessment would take place soon.   Today however I received a phone call from SMART centre to inform me that there is a backlog of 18 months?   I had to check they had the correct person which was confirmed. I asked to speak with someone else, they said there was no point but would 'put a note on' for a specialist, I explained what my experience was, that I was told only recently that Mum would receive her long-awaited assessment and that this figure of 18 months seems to have come from nowhere. They replied it certainly had not, I felt I was getting nowhere so I called the occupational therapist and left a voicemail.   My family are already going through so much, my Dad is also elderly and we have only managed to see Mum once since lockdown, we think of her constantly and want to know she is as comfortable as possible.  

Mum currently does not have a wheelchair which meets her needs, and no static chair though I understand this is not an issue for NHS, however "whoever is responsible for what" does not mean anything to my Mother, all that matters is she is being let down.   I am sure the OT will call me, I was impressed by their professionalism and compassion however I feel the need to do something right now as I am not prepared to allow this to go on much longer and certainly not 18 months.   It makes me so so sad and frustrated that someone who deserves so much more is given so little.