Wheelchair services

Local NHS wheelchair services supply manual wheelchairs, indoor powered wheelchairs, indoor/outdoor powered wheelchairs, buggies and accessories such as pressure care cushions. 

To access your local wheelchair service, you will need to be referred into the service by a registered healthcare professional such as a GP, district nurse, physiotherapist or occupational therapist.  

There are different services depending on where you live.

Wheelchair services for Hertfordshire patients

AJM Healthcare provides the NHS wheelchair service and associated equipment for people who are registered with a Hertfordshire GP.  

The service is provided from two main locations:

• Unit 5, Centrus, Mead Lane, Hertford SG13 7GX
• Unit 5B, Vale Industrial Estate, Tolpits Lane, Watford WD18 9QP

Both sites are fully accessible and have high standard clinic rooms for carrying out assessments, a customer service point and a repair and maintenance workshop. The Hertford location also has a Changing Places toilet (with a height adjustable changing bench and ceiling hoist) and electric vehicle charging points. 

The service will also provide assessments in a person’s home or in other locations such as special educational needs schools where practicable.

Find out more about  the Hertfordshire service including referrals, contact information and opening hours on the Hertfordshire Wheelchair Service website. You can also find out more about AJM Healthcare on their website.  

Wheelchair services for west Essex patients

Holly Wheelchair Service provides the NHS wheelchair service and associated equipment for people who are registered with a west Essex GP.  

Find out more about the west Essex service including contact information and opening hours on the Holly Wheelchair Service (Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust) website.

Personal Health Budgets for people using the wheelchair service

Personal Health Budgets are available for some wheelchair service users to provide a greater choice of wheelchairs.  

During your assessment a clinician will work with you to identify your needs and what you want from your wheelchair. You will be given a personal health budget that is equivalent to the cost of your prescribed wheelchair. Depending on the type of personal health budget you have, you could have the option to top up the budget which may allow you to add an additional feature to your prescribed wheelchair or you could use your personal health budget to a buy a wheelchair from another approved supplier.  

Wheelchair service eligibility criteria

Criteria for provision of wheelchairs and associated equipment 

The Hertfordshire Wheelchair Service provides equipment to meet assessed clinical needs. All people referred to the service will be assessed for a wheelchair if they meet following general criteria. 

• The person has a permanent impairment or medical condition that seriously impairs their ability to walk. 
• The person is registered with a Hertfordshire GP (with the exception of Royston GP practices which are covered by wheelchair services commissioned by Cambridge and Peterborough Integrated Care Board).  
• The person requires the use of a wheelchair for more than six months, unless they need palliative care. 
• The person intends to make regular use of a wheelchair.

The following people will not be eligible for an NHS wheelchair:

• Short term periods; less than six months use
• Clients who are able to walk but for various reasons refuse to do. 
• People living in a residential or nursing home (unless the funding has been agreed and confirmed by the ICB). 
• When wheelchair provision has contra-indications to the client’s medical condition or safety.

Provision of equipment:

• Equipment will be provided solely as an aid to mobility. Other sources of funding should be explored where elements of the wheelchairs’ features are required to meet work, education or sporting requirements. 
• Provision of equipment is subject to the referred person agreeing to the current conditions of loan. 
• Equipment will only be replaced if it ceases to meet the assessed clinical needs of the client or is beyond economical repair. 
• The client or their carer must demonstrate safe use of the equipment in the intended environment. This will be established at assessment. 

The following equipment is not provided:

• Equipment for sole use within educational establishments, work environments and leisure facilities. 
• Equipment for the sole use of accessing transport. 
• Tricycles or bicycles. 
• Scooters and electrically powered outdoor chairs (EPOC). 
• Add on power packs, power assisted wheels and stair climbers. (In most cases these items are not allowed to be fitted to a chair provided by the service.
• Trike attachment. Hertfordshire Wheelchair Service does not allow the attachment of a trike unit to any wheelchair issued by the service.  Wheelchairs provided by the service are not routinely tested or approved for the fitting of commercially available power packs, power assisted wheels or stair climbing devices and therefore permission must be sought from the service before attempting to fit a privately purchased unit. Requests will be dealt with on an individual basis taking into account all potential risks for users, carers and the equipment provided by the service.   
• Wheelchairs that enable a person to stand up or have facilities that enhance functional ability as opposed to mobility. 
• Wheelchairs to be used in place of more appropriate static seating. 
• Accessories and modifications over and above those that have been clinically prescribed which cannot be easily removed or operated independently from the wheelchair provided by the Wheelchair Service. 
• Wheelchairs required only for occasional use less than three times a week. 

Short term loan or private purchase if you aren’t eligible for an NHS wheelchair

If you need a wheelchair service on short term loan (less than six months) or if you are not eligible to have a wheelchair provided by the NHS you can contact the following organisations for help and advice with wheelchair hire. 

• Herts Ability – telephone 01707 324581 or go to the Herts Ability website.
• British Red Cross. Go to the British Red Cross website.