Choosing your wheelchair

Your budget will provide a standard NHS wheelchair to meet your needs. Your wheelchair would be provided and maintained by the NHS at no cost to you.

If you prefer a higher specification wheelchair, or want to add additional features, you can choose to pay for these yourself. Sometimes a voluntary or charitable organisation may be able to contribute. If you choose additional features, you will need to pay extra towards the wheelchair and the cost of maintenance. With this option, the wheelchair will only be ordered once you have paid your contribution.

If you prefer, you can put your budget towards the cost of a wheelchair from an independent supplier (outside the NHS). You would need to discuss this with your wheelchair therapist to ensure it is clinically appropriate. With this option, the NHS makes a direct payment to the supplier. If the wheelchair costs more than your total budget, you would need to pay the rest. If your wheelchair costs less than your budget, the supplier would only receive an amount equal to the cost. If you choose this option, you would own the wheelchair. Your wheelchair would not qualify for NHS repairs, so you would need to pay all future maintenance costs.

• If you choose option two or three, you may have to wait a little longer for your wheelchair
• Your wheelchair is normally expected to last for five years (or for children, three years), and the NHS will not provide a new wheelchair during this time unless your medical condition changes. We recommend regular maintenance to ensure your wheelchair lasts for the full period
• We recommend that you take out public liability insurance if you expect to use your wheelchair in public places, particularly for a powered wheelchair. The personal wheelchair budget does not cover public liability insurance
• The NHS will provide a pressure relieving cushion if this is clinically appropriate. This does not affect your personal wheelchair budget