Southampton Wheelchair Service

Southampton Wheelchair Service 2018-02-22 Person 1 5 0

When my son was initially assessed for his first specialist buggy the service we received was excellent. Since then two of the peadiatric OT's felt the service and the replacement therapists do not have sufficient experience or training. Southampton and Portsmouth wheelchair services have also been merged into Hampshire wheelchair service. Meaning we have to travel further for all assessments. In January 2016 I requested that my son be reassessed as he had grown out of his specialist buggy. He was finally re assessed in November 2016 and received the wheelchair he had been assessed for in May 2017. By the time he received his new chair not only had he grown so it no longer fit him but his needs had also changed so it no longer suited his needs. Myself and my son's physio requested that he be re assessed about 6 weeks this happened. Some minor changes were made to the chair but all present agreed that the chair did not suit my son's postural needs. I was told that the only option available was a chair which could only go in a WAV, which we do not have. Our physio and I were then left to sort out appropriate seating. In the mean time my son's posture in his chair became worse and worse to the point that he started to develop pressure areas. Thanks to significant effort and support from our physio by son was reassessed in January this year for emergency provision of a Snazzi (this is less supportive the chair I requested to be changed in January 2016). Hampshire wheelchair service have now stated that they are removing all of their wheelchair clinics from their special schools. So the hope of my son receiving the provision that he needs is now even less as our physio won't be present to fight our corner. The service we have received has been appalling and has put my son at significant risk.