"Wheelchair falling to pieces - when will someone help?"

A friend who needs to use an electric wheelchair has had problems with her wheelchair all this year. It is in a very poor state of repair and is causing her to injure herself on a daily basis. She was advised by Wheelchair Services at Raigmore Hospital to use her secondary backup wheelchair but due to her condition, she cannot use it. She has no one who can push her in it so she must continue to use her electric wheelchair despite the fact that the wheels are damaged and about to collapse. She was told months ago that a new wheelchair would be ordered for her. She asked for an Occupational Therapy assessment and was invited to Wheelchair Services but no one assessed her needs or seemed to listen when she tried to point out things that were unsuitable for her in the wheelchair she tried. Her condition has deteriorated badly over the last few years. A wheelchair which does not suit her needs has been ordered (tho she still hasn't received it) but still no one has listened to her or assessed her needs. Her current wheelchair looks as though it will break within days and it is getting more difficult for her to control it. This is dangerous and could injure her. If it breaks as she is crossing a busy road, she could be killed. Why is no one assessing her need and why is no one repairing her current wheelchair? How can you possibly expect a disabled wheelchair user to manage without a wheelchair? She reported the problem with the collapsing wheels over a week ago. Does anyone actually care? I'm getting the impression they don't.