I’ve had my NHS wheelchair for about 7 years now. For the past few years I’ve been wanting a new wheelchair but I’ve never been able to justify the expense. My current chair is all Wheelchair Services will issue me with so to get the chair I want I’d have to pay for it myself or find it some other way to fund it. However recently I’ve been needing to use my wheelchair more as well as using it more when I go out for rides with my Batec, and though my Batec is compatible with my current chair it’s far from ideal and it’s a struggle to use so I’ve decided it’s time for me to finally get the wheelchair I need.
Doing my research
I did a lot of research to prepare myself for buying my first wheelchair. I knew based on my NHS wheelchair certain things I did and didn’t out of my new chair. For example I wanted a rigid frame chair this time round to make it easier for my Batec docking station; I wanted a single solid footplate that was part of the frame with my feet more tucked in instead of swing away foot plates; I definitely didn’t want armrests or solid tires and I also knew I wanted as lightweight chair as possible too among other things.
As part of my research I also asked other manual wheelchair users what chair they had or would recommend.
I’d decided to initially go with Cyclone Mobility again as they’d come highly recommend when I was looking at powered add-ons and I went with them for my Batec and I liked Alex my rep and the company and the engineer seemed very knowledgeable and I got a generally good impression from them.
I’d watched some of Gem’s videos from her YouTube channel WheelsNoHeels on her experience of buying her latest GTM Jaguar wheelchair through Cyclone Mobility, getting fitted for her wheelchair, mistakes she’s make in the past when buying chairs and her advice to on buying a wheelchair. This really helped me prepare and know steps to take and things to consider as well as ask when demoing wheelchairs.
When I contacted Cyclone Mobility to book a demo they went through what I was looking for in a wheelchair so Alex would know what chairs to bring along for me to try out. I’d already looked and researched the chairs Cyclone Mobility offered and I was very interested in the Aria 1.0 wheelchair so I asked if that could also be brought along.
Another thing Gem advised was to speak with a wheelchair OT so I got myself referred to Wheelchair Services.
The demo
I arranged a date for Alex to come and bring a selection of chairs for me to look at and try out. He brought with him the requested Aria 1.0 wheelchair as well and an OffCarr brand wheelchair. I sat in both chairs and really liked both chairs. I also went through again what I wanted in my new wheelchair such as my seating position; I didn’t want to be sat at 90 degree angle so Alex showed me alternative seating options that would be more comfortable and help with my back and hip pain. I spoke about my research in the Aria chair and why that chair interested me.
I also spoke about my Batec and Alex advised me that Aria wheelchairs don’t quite go with Batec’s and he’d got an Aria chair and hardly used it. He then went back to his van and brought me a GTM Mustang wheelchair. He explained that GTM wheelchairs are made to go with Batec’s. The GTM demo chair was more-or-less my size so it gave me an idea of using it myself.
I was really stuck as I liked all three wheelchairs and they all would meet my specs when customised but the GTM Mustang spoke to me most.
When I was moving around in the demo GTM chair both inside and outside it felt so magical; I didn’t realise how much of a struggle it really was to use my current NHS wheelchair. It was effortless to move around in including outside and I wasn’t tiring or getting breathless I felt like I was in zero gravity! I could see clearly how getting this chair would improve my independence, freedom and quality of life.
 |
| Photos of the demo GTM Mustang |
Measuring me up and customising my new
Alex measured me up for the GTM Mustang wheelchair and there was a lot of measurements to take as it’s totally customised to my specifications. When I was going through all of this with Alex it was really helpful that Alex was a wheelchair user ehimself so I could use both his professional and his personal experience when customising my wheelchair. For example with Alex’s personal experience he felt GTM wheelchairs were a better chair to go for as he’d bought an Aria wheelchair but hardly used it and preferred his current GTM Endeavour wheelchair. He also personally advised me on things like what tires to go for and how the full gekko grip push rims cause friction when going downhill so the ones I went for were the better option. He also recommended the metal over plastic brakes too.
The backrest is slightly angled back and I have an ergo bucket seat so rather than my legs sitting flat the seat is angled back so my legs are slightly diagonal. I also got measured for my backrest height and the length and width of my seat, the length was measured to what I felt was comfortable. My lower legs were also measured to work out the frame height for the seat to footplate. Alex also measured what size footplate I wanted and I’ve probably missed some things out, so lots of use of the tape measure! We probably spent an hour just measuring me for my wheelchair.
As well as the measuring there are also other customisations I can choose for my chair, some come as standard, as part of the chair others come at an added cost. It was helpful to have Alex, a wheelchair user himself to ask his experience of some of the customisations and options as this is my first chair so some things I felt a bit clueless on.
I asked Alex on what tires I should go for and I asked him about tire maintenance as I’ve only ever had solid tires. I also chose push rims that have a strip of Gekko Grip. Spinergy wheels were suggested but I didn’t go for them as I hope to eventually get some Loop Wheels and use them when I’m out on my Batec and use my normal wheels when I’m using my chair without my Batec.
I also personally wanted mudguards that went over the top of my tires. I saw these on the Aria and OffCarr wheelchairs and preferred them and thought they’d be more practical.
Another customisation I went for is a fold down backrest which would make it easier to transport in the car boot.
I’m also having a Batec docking station fitted to the base of the frame and I’m getting this free as I’ve already got my Batec with Cylone Mobility.
The OT appointment
I got in touch with my local NHS Wheelchair Services to refer myself to see an Occupational Therapist (OT) and said that my wheelchair needs had changed since I last reported in my annual survey review. - Each year in the post I’m sent a questionnaire about me and my wheelchair to see if my wheelchair is still suitable and if a referral to see an OT is needed.
I was pleasantly surprised to find that I’d see an OT within 4 weeks of my referral once I’d been triaged. When I heard from an OT, sooner than I thought, to book in my appointment I had a great chat with the OT on the phone about the wheelchair I had tried out. I said that it was more-or-less my size and she said that always helped and I said how much easier this chair was for me and she was so positive and upbeat about me getting this new wheelchair and she said how much it will improve my quality of life.
Unfortunately the OT’s that came out to me weren’t so upbeat and positive. One OT’s I’d met previously and she was just as unpleasant back then. Due to the negativity I got from the OT’s I wasn’t able to ask all the questions I wanted to get from speaking with a wheelchair OT. The only advice I was able to gain was the backrest height which I’d already measured correctly with Alex and I’d realised that the high back on my current wheelchair was unsuitable for self-propelling myself in my wheelchair. This confirmed to me that I needed this GTM wheelchair more and what the OT’s were saying about my current wheelchair they had no idea and weren’t listening to me at all about the problems I was having with my NHS chair and why exactly I was wanting to get myself a new wheelchair.
The OT’s did speak about Personal Wheelchair Budgets but again they were very negative about me getting it and how little I’d get. However when I heard back later from Wheelchair Services I was pleased to hear that my budget was going to be more than the OT’s said I’d get. It’s still not a lot but anything financially towards my wheelchair is a help.
I’d still encourage people to speak with a Wheelchair OT when buying a new wheelchair and this was one of the pieces of advice Gem gave; each time she buys a new wheelchair she speaks with an OT.
Meeting with Alex again
I met with Alex again today and I was so excited for this day to come! We went over the measurements again and altered a few things as I just to make sure they’re all correct and I’m happy with them as some things once the chair is made they can’t be adjusted. Thankfully it’s an adjustable frame so some things can be altered like the centre of gravity (how tippy the chair will be for things like popping wheelies) and I think the footrest height can be adjusted to?
There are also some customisations I want to change too. Originally I went for the standard white frame but since my demo I’ve decided to get a custom coloured frame. I see my chair as part of me when I’m in it; it’s my legs and my pair of designer shoes and I want it to show off my personality like a pair of Jimmy Choo’s. I’ve also decided to get carbon fibre mudguards and a footplate instead of plastic ones as they’re more hard wearing and a bit lighter in weight.
I also managed to get a few more things free like the delivery and footplate (bonus!) so the total cost wasn’t a lot extra plus I have my Personal Wheelchair Budget (PWB) to deduct and the chair can under the budget I’d put aside for getting a wheelchair too so that’s fab!
I wasn’t sure if my PWB had been processed but I was able to pay the deposit on my new wheelchair so that the order for it can be put through today to get things started with getting my wheelchair made which takes 12 weeks so I didn’t want any delays. So yep I’ve bought my wheelchair today!
Alex also came back today so Diane could see putting the GTM chair in her car boot along with my Batec Mini which it easily did. Even I could lift the frame of the GTM chair out of Diane boot and then the wheels it was that lightweight - it was like magic; it’ll be so much better for Diane’s back transporting my chair. Then the other weekend my Dad was sold on my new wheelchair when I told him about how to get GTM chair in/out the boot compared to my current wheelchair which we have to completely dismantle to fit in his boot plus to make it a little lighter in weight. Dad also helped me pick the frame colour too.
Why I’m choosing a manual wheelchair
A few years ago I did look a great deal into folding electric wheelchairs but at the time I wasn’t going out often so I couldn’t justify the price of buying something I’d use so infrequently. I looked again when I was looking at properties as I might have needed a mobility aid to help me get around the property but then when I moved here the layout of my home is so compact I could manage well just with my crutches.
Outside when going out I had my NHS chair which my carers could push me in or I could self-propel myself in.
More recently I have needed to use my wheelchair more. I decided to stay with a manual wheelchair mainly to try to stay as active as I possibly can do.
Recently I looked into powered add-ons, something I’d also looked into in the past alongside electric wheelchairs. I looked at both powered wheels and attachments, devices such as Smart Drives, TriRides and Batec’s.
Cyclone Mobility came recommended and sell both powered wheels and powered attachments and when I contacted them they recommended the Batec to me, in particular the Batec Mini 2 that would meet my needs.
After trying out the Batec Mini I was sold and purchased one and it’s probably the best piece of equipment I’ve ever bought. It’s truly transformed my life and improved my mental health too. What I love about my Batec is I have the best of both worlds, I can use my wheelchair one it own as a manual wheelchair and be active when going somewhere short and easy then for times where I’ll tire more or when I won’t be able to push my wheelchair I can attach my Batec and let the powered battery do the work.
I think once I get my new GTM wheelchair it’ll transform my life more. I think because I won’t be as tired and breathless pushing myself around and I’ll be able to do me and able to lead the more independent, active and free lifestyle I want to lead as a younger disabled person and then have my Batec add-on. I also won’t be so limited by my chair and it’ll be easier to use inside and outside giving me the assistance I need.
Financing my wheelchair
I’ve already mentioned the Personal Wheelchair Budget. Through the NHS there are three financial options for wheelchair. The first is an NHS issued wheelchair and they’ll give you the standard wheelchair they think you need based on your needs. - This is the option I’m currently using but what they think you need might not necessarily be what you need which is the situation I’m in now but the chair I currently have is the only one I’d be issued with based on how they assess my needs.
Option two is an NHS issued wheelchair which you then financially contribute to customise. So I’d probably still get the same Invacare Action 3 wheelchair with this option.
Option three which is what I’m going for now is a Personal Wheelchair Budget (PWB). They work out how much your NHS wheelchair would cost and this is your Personal Budget to put towards any chair you wish to purchase. For me my Invacare wheelchair is very inexpensive for the NHS and as I’m classed as an ambulatory wheelchair user my PWB didn’t come to all that much. Part of my PWB also includes a contribution to help me pay for maintenance of the wheelchair as that falls on me not the NHS with a self-bought wheelchair. Currently Wheelchair Services are responsible for the maintenance of my NHS wheelchair. However even though my PWB isn’t a lot compared to the price of my new wheelchair I’m still grateful for any financial help I can get.
I’m not a person to set up things like GoFundMe fundraising accounts for things like this. I did consider applying to charities for grants to fund my wheelchair but there are a lot of hoops to jump through such as keeping medical diaries, getting various medical support letters and getting proof of my disabilities and so on. Thankfully because I’ve known for a while that I’ve wanted to eventually buy a new wheelchair I’ve managed to save up to self-fund my new wheelchair. I hadn’t planned on buying my new wheelchair this soon but I’m struggling so much it’s become more of a necessity to buy my new wheelchair now rather than later.