This service provides wheelchairs to people who have a permanent disability and whose ability to walk is therefore permanently restricted.
The wheelchair service will loan a wheelchair to anyone who has a long term mobility problem and is classified as unable, or virtually unable to walk indoors or outdoors. Short-term wheelchair loans (less than 6 months) are not provided.
The seating service is provided for wheelchair clients to assist with postural support or pressure relief to improve function and to limit the progression of deformity / pressure injury.
The seating service is for any wheelchair / pushchair user who has a complex permanent physical impairment whose needs cannot be met by standard commercially available equipment.
The service is for any person who:
Referral forms are accepted from health and social care professionals.
Once clients are registered with the wheelchair service, they can self-refer and contact the service directly for reassessment and advice.
If an assessment is required, the client will either be booked into a clinic at one of the wheelchair service localities or visited at home. Visits also take place in schools, day centres, care homes etc where necessary. The venue of the assessment will be based on individual need.
Any queries about the referral process should be directed to the relevant wheelchair team.
Please see the 'How to find us' section below.
Telephone and leave a voicemail message with the relevant service. Messages will be dealt with as soon as possible on the following working day. For emergency repairs, contact AJM Healthcare on 01323 847250.
The wheelchair service has four locality teams:
Brighton & Hove locality
Sussex Rehabilitation Centre
Brighton General Hospital
Elm Grove
Brighton BN2 3EX
Tel: 01273 242156 or 242157
Email: sc-tr.wheelchairadmin@nhs.net
Bognor locality (covering Bognor Regis, Chichester, Harting, Littlehampton, Loxwood, Midhurst, Petworth)
Richard Hotham Unit
Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital
Shripney Road
Bognor Regis PO22 9PP
Tel: 01243 623650
Email: sc-tr.wheelchairservicebognor@nhs.net
Horsham locality (covering Burgess Hill, Copthorne, Crawley, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath, Horsham, Pulborough)
Horsham Hospital
Hurst Road
Horsham RH12 2DR
Tel: 01403 620454
Email: sc-tr.wheelchairservicehorsham@nhs.net
Worthing locality (covering Findon, Henfield, Pulborough, Rustington, Shoreham, Southwick, Storrington, Worthing)
Sussex Rehabilitation Centre
Brighton General Hospital
Elm Grove
Brighton BN2 3EX
Tel: 01273 265850
Email: sc-tr.wheelchairserviceworthing@nhs.net
The Worthing locality team also runs clinics from AJM Healthcare's depot at:
AJM Healthcare
20 Timberlaine Estate
Decoy Rd
Worthing BN14 8ND
Tel: 01323 847250
Email: service@ajmhealthcare.org
The service issues wheelchairs from a preferred range of models. The preferred models are chosen because they meet the needs of many clients, are adaptable and offer value for money. The service may consider wheelchair provision from outside this range in clinically exceptional cases. Clients may choose the third party personal wheelchair budget option to obtain a wheelchair outside of the preferred range.
Repairs
AJM Healthcare, the service's wheelchair maintenance contractor, provide a repair service for wheelchairs issued by the service. They can be contacted on 01323 847250.
General Manager - Wheelchair and Seating Service
Sharon Gasson, General Manager
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust
Sussex Rehabilitation Centre
Brighton General Hospital
Elm Grove, Brighton
East Sussex, BN2 3EZ
Tel: 01273 696 011 Ext. 3889
Email: sc-tr.wheelchairadmin@nhs.net
Clinical Service Manager - Wheelchair and Seating Service
Esmé Barrow-Retallack
Sussex Rehabilitation Centre
Brighton General Hospital
Elm Grove
Brighton BN2 3EX
Tel: 01273 696011 Extension: 3187
Email: esme.barrow-retallack@nhs.net