UpdateSouthend Wheelchair Service

Karen Christensen

Then (September 2006)

• Overview of service

- community, standard, specialist and postural seating solutions

• Budget

- Local development plan (LDP) bid for electrically powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs

Then, cont….

Waiting lists:

• 52 clients waiting for an occupational therapy assessment, max.12 months

• 57 clients waiting for an assistant assessment, max wait 3 months

• 34 clients waiting for assessment for indoor/outdoor wheelchair (EPIOC), max wait 4.5 years.

What We Did…

• Purchased stock of EPIOCs with additional funding

• Employed additional Occupational Therapy staff

• Re-launched the Wheelchair User Group

• Set up weekly assessment clinics for EPIOCs

Now (January 2007)

• 34 clients waiting for an occupational therapy assessment, average wait 8 months

• 32 clients waiting for an assistant assessment, average wait 3 months

EPIOCs

• Weekly assessment clinics running to end of February 2007 to clear existing backlog

• All clients waiting have appointment and chairs are being issued

• New clients offered assessment clinics on monthly basis

• Process in place to minimise wait