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frustrated wheelchair user

Posted By Frustrated wheelchair user

"frustrated wheelchair user"

About: Scottish Ambulance Service Western General Hospital (Edinburgh)

(as the patient),

I have bad Osteo Arthritis. The Scottish Ambulance service insist on a manual wheel chair but I have an electric wheelchair because my shoulders & feet are shattered by OA. My electric wheelchair is essential for independence eg going to the toilet without needing a nurse or to go to the cafe etc. At the beginning of the year I got an OT from Astley Ainsley & she told me I needed to be in an electric wheelchair.

SAS drivers and hospital agree with me that electric wheelchair should be used One driver said he would take me but his boss denied him.

Same issue when going to Victoria for cancer treatment. Have to take a taxi because SAS refuse to take me. I pay for this myself at £12 return.

This is not fair. I am due to go to Edinburgh in two weeks time and I am not sure I will make it. I missed an appointment 3 months ago because of this. Consultant had to phone me to see how I was.

Electric chair is only a bit wider than a normal chair. Been advised this is because of an accident in Glasgow years ago. I know what I am doing and I turn my power down. Driver says he knows who are sensible and who arent. GP wrote a letter but didn't know who to send it to.

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Responses

Response from Chris Conroy, Head of Patient Transport Service, Scottish Ambulance Service 7 years ago
Chris Conroy
Head of Patient Transport Service,
Scottish Ambulance Service

Submitted on 23/11/2016 at 11:56
Published on Care Opinion at 12:05

Dear Frustrated wheelchair user,

Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences of the Patient Transport Service. Having read your post, I am concerned around the inconsistent messages you have received around travelling in your electric wheelchair. Whilst not all our vehicles are suitable to support patients travelling in electric wheelchairs, we do support patients travelling in electric wheelchairs daily. In particular, as you have highlighted, we would want to make sure that patients can maintain their independence whilst within hospital.

Could I ask you to contact me so that I can look in to this for you? It will allow me to make sure all appropriate arrangements are in place for your future journeys with the Patient Transport Service.

My contact number is 0141 810 6101 or please email me at scotamb.accadmin@nhs.net

Best wishes,

Chris

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