NHS Wheelchair Services across the UK: country-specific information

In part 1, we looked at a simple way to find your local service. You can search for “NHS wheelchair service" + "your location.” Here is specific info for each country in the UK. 

Information for England 

In England, the local health authority is known as an Integrated Care Board (ICB). It has responsibility for NHS wheelchair services in that area. Find your local health authority or ICB. 

Information for Wales 

NHS Wheelchair services in Wales has a main hub in Cardiff. Three centres in Cardiff, Swansea and Wrexham work together to form an all-Wales service. 

Information for Northern Ireland 

NHS Wheelchair Services in Northern Ireland has a main hub in Belfast – the Regional Wheelchair Service. After getting in touch here, people are then referred to a local centre. For more information, see NIDirect: Wheelchair Service 

Information for Scotland 

Wheelchair services across Scotland are based at five main centres. 

  • WestMARC (The West of Scotland Mobility and Rehabilitation Centre) is based in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, Glasgow. It serves patients from six health boards. These are: NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Lanarkshire, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Dumfries & Galloway and part of NHS Forth Valley and NHS Highland. 
  • The SMART Centre (South east Mobility and Rehabilitation Technology Centre). This is based in the Astley Ainslie Hospital, Edinburgh. It serves patients from NHS Lothian, NHS Fife and NHS Borders. 
  • In Tayside, there is the TORT Centre (Tayside Orthopaedic & Rehabilitation Technology Centre). It serves patients in NHS Tayside as well as part of NHS Forth Valley 
  • MARS (Mobility and Rehabilitation Service) is based in Woodend Hospital, Aberdeen. It serves patients from NHS Grampian, NHS Orkney and NHS Shetland. 

Do the premises of NHS Wheelchair Services provide any other services? 

 

Occasionally, your local NHS Wheelchair Service might be part of something bigger. This could be a hospital, or a broader centre for disabled people. That centre might provide some mobility aids and prosthetics, or it might provide assistive technology. 

See, for example, Ace centre: Find a local NHS Assistive Tech Service + Ace centre: UK map. You can also contact your local health authority. 

Other options for getting a wheelchair 

 

Buying a Wheelchair Privately 

Wheelchairs can be purchased privately, for example from local mobility shops. BUT first, it is always advisable to contact the NHS wheelchair service (link to first page or first section of guide) or the local health authority . You should get advice before buying a wheelchair privately. 

Other Support Schemes 

The Access to Work scheme provides grants for equipment needed for employment.  

The Motability Scheme helps with hiring or buying scooters and powerchairs. (Powerchairs are also known as powered wheelchairs or electric wheelchairs). The scheme allows some people to use their benefits for payment. If you want to lease a Motability vehicle or car, you cannot lease a Motability scooter or powerchair as well. (You can have only one Motability lease agreement at a time.) 

Charities related to your condition might also offer grants. 

You can sometimes borrow an NHS wheelchair for a short while (for example, after an operation). Some Red Cross branches offer wheelchair rentals on a weekly basis. 

Some shopping centres have a Shopmobility scheme. While you're shopping, you can borrow a wheelchair at low cost or for free. 

 

Get in touch 

 

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