Referrals
If you are an existing service user, and have a wheelchair issued by us, you can contact us by either calling or emailing and we will advise if a further referral is required from a registered medical professional.
If you are not known to our service, you will require a referral form to be completed by a registered healthcare professional. Referral forms can be accessed via a link on the ‘Professional Area’ on this webpage using a unique access code.
Alternatively, healthcare professionals can request a referral form directly from our team using our service contact details.
When a completed referral form is received by the team it will be triaged by a wheelchair clinician.
A referral does not guarantee an assessment.
The triaging clinician will decide whether to request further information, whether to add the referral to the waiting list for an appointment or may decline the referral. The referrer will be contacted with the outcome of the clinical triage.
All accepted referrals are prioritised according to clinical need, and whilst we aim to see clients promptly, the service has a significant waiting list which means you may have to wait several months to be assessed.
Criteria
We do provide:
- Standard transit chair for long term use (6 months or longer)
- Self-propel wheelchairs dependent on need and medical condition
- Indoor use powered wheelchairs following satisfactory assessment for Wheelchair service team
- Specialist seating cushions following assessment by a clinician and dependent on requirements
We don’t provide:
- Wheelchairs in place of a suitable static seat
- Short-term loan standard transit and self-propel wheelchairs
- Powered packs or powered wheels that are retro fitted to manual wheelchairs
- Powered outdoor only wheelchairs
- Powered wheelchairs above Class 2
- Seat risers in powered wheelchairs
- Mobility scooters
- Equipment specifically for work, education or sporting requirements
- Sunshades / canopies for buggies unless identified specific medical need
- Trays unless required for postural support as identified by wheelchair service on assessment.
- Transportation clamps or head restraints for transportation purposes.
- Transit wheelchairs for portering purposes to Nursing and Residential Care Homes in St Helens.
Changes to Bridgewater Wheelchair Services Eligibility Criteria for Adults
From 1 April 2025, Bridgewater Wheelchair Services will no longer provide wheelchairs for social or occasional use, this will allow us to focus on supplying essential equipment exclusively to full-time wheelchair users.
This change aims to allocate resources effectively and reduce waiting times for patients with complex needs.
For short-term use, wheelchairs can often be borrowed at low or no cost from venues like shopping centres, supermarkets, and garden centres.
For long-term wheelchair hire in Halton and St Helens, users can contact Ableworld or the British Red Cross.
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