Care Opinion

Wheelchair problems

Posted By Flo831

"Wheelchair problems"

About: University Hospital Ayr / Rehabilitation Medicine

(as a service user),

Attended as an out patient and was in foyer heading home when we met an older couple, the woman in a hospital wheelchair with the man trying to drag it. My daughter went to offer help but found that a rear wheel had seized. We had several folks commenting to us that they were easier to pull but also had a member of staff say that they were actually designed to be pulled.

Having attended Moving & Handing I know that this is not the case and not what you want folks to be told. 

I was almost speechless but I politely replied that H&S plus M&H would disagree and they were designed to be pushed.

Perhaps signs could be there for public awareness, again? 

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Responses

Response from Pamela Gibson, Patient Experience Facilitator, Nursing, NHS Ayrshire and Arran last week
We are preparing to make a change
Pamela Gibson
Patient Experience Facilitator, Nursing,
NHS Ayrshire and Arran

Monitor stories and provide administration for NHS Ayrshire & Arran

Submitted on 29/01/2025 at 13:14
Published on Care Opinion at 13:42

picture of Pamela Gibson

Dear Flo831

Thank you for taking the time to share your recent healthcare experience with us via Care Opinion.

I am very sorry to read about the situation you have described and I am liaising with colleagues in the Health & Safety and Moving & Handling Teams to address this.

Please accept my best wishes and thank you once again for taking to get in touch with us.

Kind Regards

Pamela

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by Flo831 (a service user)

Thank you! As an ex member of staff, I know these teams work incredibly hard to ensure the safety of patients and staff. I was a bit like a dog at a bone watching others deal with chairs, they’d be proud of me. My boss was amused at me instructing a senior member of staff taking their child home and telling them I didn’t want to see them pulling.

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