Information on Equipment Sources
Having
the right equipment to enable a disabled person to live more independently
and also help their carers is vital. Here is given information as to where
you can obtain equipment you require or don’t know about.
Sources
include social service departments, the NHS, education and employment
services and voluntary organisations. Social services and the NHS usually
supply equipment on loan.
From
social services
Equipment which can make it easier to manage
at home is usually provided by social services departments following an
assessment by an occupational therapist. How long you have to wait and
how much help you get is not always the ideal.
The items supplied can make it easier and
safer to deal with everyday tasks such as preparing food or managing your
personal care. Simple alterations or adaptations can also be arranged,
such as repositioning electrical sockets or fixing handrails.
The type of equipment or adaptation provided
will depend on your situation, and can range from straightforward items
such as kettle tippers and tap turners in the kitchen, bath seats and
raised toilet seats in the bathroom, right through to hoists to help with
transferring in and out of bed or bath
Depending on your circumstances, you could
be asked to contribute to the cost.
Social services will arrange for an occupational
therapist or social worker to make an assessment and if necessary
call in the housing department to help. Occupational therapists will
also be able to advise you about equipment you can obtain from other
sources.
See also Housing
and Home for information about arranging improvements and adaptations
to your home
From the National Health
Service
GP services
Your GP can prescribe items from an approved list.
These include , for example, elastic stockings, appliances for colostomies
and similar conditions, some types of trusses and wound dressings, urinary
catheters and urinary collection devices
Wheelchairs
see: NHS Wheelchair Service - Getting a Wheelchair:
If you have a problem which prevents you moving around
your home easily, even for a short time, a wheechair may be the answer.
An occupational therapist or physiotherapist will assess your needs at
home, in hospital or at your local NHS wheelchair service. Hospitals havedepartments for special needs
How do you choose? The NHS wheelchair
service will help you choose a wheelchair that meets your needs, including
extras like cushions, arm rests or trays. If the therapist agrees that
you could benefit from a more expensive chair than the local service can
offer, you may be able to get a voucher that will allow you to pay the
difference. However, the voucher scheme is only applicable in England.
Not all services may be able to offer this option yet.
Artificial limbs
see Disablement Service Centres (Limb Centres) in UK
If you need an artificial
limb, they are provided, maintained and repaired at no charge. Your hospital
consultant will refer you to your nearest Disablement Services Centre
(DSC), or in Scotland and Wales, Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre
(ALAC), where specialist medical staff prescribe the limb best suited
to your needs and where you will also receive walking or arm training.
The DSCs/ALACs are usually attached to regional hospitals.
In Wales the Artificial Limb and Appliance Service
(ALAS) (click here for website http://www.wales.nhs.uk/alas) is responsible for providing
the wheelchair service and artificial limbs. These services are provided
at three Artificial Limb and Appliance Centres (ALACS)
at:
Cardiff and Vale Trust
Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre
Rookwood Hospital
Fairwater Road
Llandaff
Cardiff CF5 2YN
Telephone: 029 2041 5415
also
Swansea NHS Trust
Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre
Morriston Hospital
Swansea SA6 6LG
Telephone: 01792 795252
also
North East Wales NHS Trust
Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre
Croesnewydd Road
Wrexham LL13 7NT
Telephone: 01978 727524
The NHS Wheelchair Service is only provided at the ALACS in Cardiff and Wrexham
Walking aids If there is a medical requirement for walking sticks, frames
and other walking aids, they can be provided on loan from your local hospital
or community health service, usually on the recommendation of a physiotherapist.
A deposit may be required.
Surgical Appliances If you need a surgical appliance (or ‘orthosis’) your GP will
be able to refer you to a healthcare professional who will be able to
prescribe an appliance to suit your needs. Appliances include elastic
hosiery, trusses, surgical footwear, leg appliances, abdominal and spinal
supports, surgical brassieres, artificial breasts, arm, neck and head
appliances and wigs.
You may be asked to pay a charge for wigs, fabric
supports, surgical brassieres and elastic hosiery. If you have a low income
this may be waived, or you may be offered some financial assistance
Environmental control systems
What are they? Environmental
control systems help people with a severe physical disability by enabling
them to operate appliances and equipment in the home from a central control,
worked if necessary by switches adapted to their individual requirements.
They can be linked with a wide range of equipment such as alarms, door
locks, intercoms. telephone, lights, heaters, beds, curtains, radios,
televisions, communication aids and computers.
How do you get them? Contact
an occupational therapist in the social services or NHS who will be able
to tell you about the systems available. Otherwise ask your GP or community
nurse. You will then be referred to a medical consultant who acts as the
environmental control assessor in your area.
If the assessor decides equipment
would help , an occupational therapist from social services may be asked
to assist with any necessary arrangements for installation. Equipment
is provided on loan and maintained and serviced free of charge.
From the Employment service See the section on Access to Work to
find out about help with equipment you may need to work.Your local Jobcentre will put you
in touch with a Disability Employment Adviser. From education and training services See section on Education From voluntary organisations Some of the groups
named in the Addresses section will give you information about obtaining
equipment, including what can be found in local shops and pharmacies.
Some groups may also help with the supply of equipment.The Red Cross Medical
Loan Service through your local branch (see phone book) can lend equipment including
commodes, wheelchairs and walking frames to meet urgent short-term needs.
They may sometimes charge a handling fee. St John Ambulance Brigade may
also be able to help in some areas.REMAP may
be able to help if you need a specially adapted item outside the range
of standard aids and equipment on the market. Tel: 01732 883818
Awear (formerly the National
Association of Clothing Workshops) brings together services around the
country which may help with the clothing needs of disabled people.
AWEAR (UK)
NICC Annesley Road
Hucknall
Notts
NG15 8AY
Phone: 0115 953 0439
Fax: 0115 953 7440
Website: http://www.justmobility.co.uk/traders/
Assist UK (formerly The Disabled Living Centres Council - DLCC),
the national organisation for DLCs
Disabled Living
Centres (DLCs)
These centres around the UK aim to increase opportunities
for people to live independently. They offer disabled people the chance
to see and try out a wide range of products to find those that suit their
needs.They offer free and independent advice about what
is available, how much it costs and where to get it. Many centres also
arrange training on a variety of topics of interest to disabled people,
carers and professionals, for which there is generally a fee.
The centres vary in size, scope and opening hours,
so it is best to telephone before visiting.
The Disabled Living Foundation & The Disability Information Trust
The Disabled Living Foundation (DLF)
The Disabled
Living Foundation makes everyday
life easier for people with disabilities, older people and carers by giving
impartial advice about equipment for overcoming problems in daily living.
The National Disability
Helpline is staffed by a team of information officers who provide advice on equipment,
clothing, footwear and other sources of information. Enquiries are either
answered directly over the telephone or for more detailed information,
sent by post. Open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm.
Specific information can
be obtained from DLF-DATA, the UK’s most comprehensive database of
disability equipment
The subscription service
provides comprehensive in depth information through the off-line version
of DLF-DATA or the CD-ROM, or the DLF Hamilton Index, a directory of equipment
containing 23 individual sections published in four parts, each in a separate
binder containing five or six sections. One part of the Index is updated
every four months, giving a 16 month cycle. Information on the off-line
version of DLF-DATA can be obtained from the DLF
Publications contain
very detailed information, and range from the specialist resource packs
on equipment such as wheelchairs to fact sheets and product guides on
choosing and using equipment.
Demonstration Centre - displays
a wide range of useful equipment and gadgets for older people and people
with disabilities of all ages. The range includes wheelchairs, walking
equipment, hoists, kitchen, bathing and toileting equipment as well as
a display of children’s equipment. It is staffed by information advisors
who will demonstrate items and discuss practical problems. Monday, Tuesday
and Friday are open days, open 10.00am
- 3.30pm , Wednesday and Thursday are by appointment.
Disabled Living Foundation, 380-384 Harrow Road, London W9 2HU
Training courses are focused
on the practical issues surrounding disability
The Disability
Information Trust
The Disability Information Trust publishes
a series of reference books providing in-depth information on a wide range
of equipment and self-help devices currently on the market, as well as
some everyday consumer goods. Each product included has been examined
and assessed by professionals; most have been tested in use by disabled
people. The books also offer suggestions for coping with various difficulties
and solving problems.
Each publication gives a description
and comments, with guidelines to help choose equipment and points to consider
before buying. There is a photograph of each item together with addresses
and phone numbers for contacting the makers or distributors.
The titles are completely revised
and updated in rotation and new titles are added from time to time. New
editions are announced in professional journals and voluntary associations’
magazines as well as through an extensive mailing list of users, maintained
by the trust.
Current titles:
A Practical Guide to Manual Wheelchairs
A Practical Guide to Powered Wheelchairs
and Scooters
Arthritis-an Equipment Guide
Communication and Access to Computer
Technology
Children with Disabilities
Employment and the Workplace
Furniture
Gardening-an Equipment Guide
Hoists, Lifts and Transfers
Home Management and Housing
Outdoor Transport
Parents with Disability
Personal Care
Sport and Leisure
Walking Aids and Standing Aids
The books are now in many libraries. The
Trust is also publishing smaller ‘popular’ versions of some
titles. Contact them for details. Orders or requests for a free, descriptive
leaflet should be sent to :
Disability Information Trust
Nuffield Orthopedic Centre
Headington
Oxford
OX3 7LD
Day: 01865 227592
Medical Devices Agency Disability Equipment Assessment Reports
from the Medical Devices Agency of the Department of Health. Based on
user trials and technical assessment, these are mainly intended for therapists,
other professionals and purchasers of equipment. They are available free
to health and social care professionals and for an appropriate charge
for others. For a free list of publications and details of how to obtain
these reports contact:
Hannibal House Elephant & Castle
London
Greater London
SE1 6TQ
020 7972 8000
mail@medical-devices.gov.uk
http://www.medical-devices.gov.uk/
Computer Help for Disabled
People: Jargon free guide by Lorna Ridgeway and Stuart McKears, Souvenir Press
£12.95
Other places
to view equipment and get information:-
Hospital occupational therapy departments
These often have small displays
of equipment and offer advice to people who are in hospital or attending
as out-patients
Social services departments
These often have assessment
centres where equipment can be tried out.
Local authority education
departments
These may have a selection
of equipment on view for use in schools.
Chemists
Larger branches often stock
continence aids and basic aids for eating, drinking and bathing. Ask at
your social services department or Disabled Living Centre where to buy
items.
Specialist retailers and
disability equipment manufacturers
These often have showrooms
where equipment is displayed. Ask the British Healthcare Trades Association
(BHTA) for the address of your nearest retailer who subscribes to their
code of practice.
http://www.bhta.net/DesktopDefault.aspx
Naidex Care Management
Each year Naidex holds exhibitions
in the UK covering a wide range of equipment and services for disabled
and elderly people. For details call: 0208 910 7873, or fax: 0208 910
7926
Research Institute for Consumer
Affairs (RICA)
An independent consumer organisation
which carries out research and publishes information for elderly and disabled
consumers. RICA publishes reports on disability equipment and other subjects,
including Equipment for an Easier Life.
Ricability
30 Angel Gate
City Road
London EC1V 2PT
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7427 2460
Fax: +44 (0)20 7427 2468
Textphone: +44 (0)20 7427 2469
E-mail: mail@ricability.org.uk
Website: http://www.ricability.org.uk/index.htm
AbilityNet
This is a charity formed
by the Computability Centre and the Foundation for Communication for the
Disabled to give information and advice on computer access at home and
at work, including adapting technology to the needs of people with a disability.
http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/
SCOPE
This voluntary organisation
gives advice, assessment and training with an emphasis on the needs of
people with cerebral palsy.
http://www.scope.org.uk/
RNIB
Royal National Institute
for the Blind.
http://www.rnib.org.uk/
RNID
Royal National Institute
for Deaf People
http://www.rnid.org.uk/ extra wide shoes
 |
