The Wheelchair Hub provides a comprehensive wheelchair, seating and sleep system service for people with long-term mobility problems and associated postural needs.
Service users must be registered with an NHS Hounslow GP. The assessment is holistic and takes into consideration disability, environment, lifestyle and safety factors.
The service offers assessment to children and adults for provision of manual and powered wheelchairs, specialist children's buggies and associated supportive seating to meet postural and pressure care needs.
First referrals need to be completed and submitted by a GP or any other healthcare professional working with the service user. Once in our system, service users can then access the service directly.
Once equipment is provided, The Wheelchair Hub provides continuing support, reviews service users' needs and maintains equipment.
The Hub provides a single, streamlined service for all aspects of wheelchair care:
- Wheelchair and posture assessment, equipment and review
- Rehabilitation Engineering
- Repairs and maintenance
- Sleep system service
Watch our video about coming to the Wheelchair Hub here
We now offer sleep systems to local children and adults in Hounslow, as part of the new 24-hour postural management to service users.
Sleep systems enable patients to maintain good posture while sleeping, helping to prevent deformities from occurring and improving the patient’s health and quality of life. The sleep systems provided by the trust are tailored to the needs of the user - creating a moulded shape around the body to support the patient in a well aligned posture overnight.
Research has shown that sleep systems provide:
- Management or prevention of pressure ulcers in bed
- Postural management and improved comfort during sleep
- Improved sleep quality for those using the sleep systems
- Increased sleep for carers due to the improved sleep of their family member.
Refer to our service if your service user requires:
- Long term complex postural management e.g. contractures, deformity, asymmetric posture either developing or present.
- End of life care e.g. for posture management and comfort.
- Pressure management / care to assist in preventing the development of pressure ulcers or as part of the healing process.
An assessment service for sleep systems, posture management and mobility with our multi-disciplinary team.
Prescription and provision of sleep system equipment from our dedicated budget, with no cost to your service.
Hounslow Wheelchair Service provides sleep systems for both children and adults of all ages, who are registered with a Hounslow GP.
Initial referrals should be made by a health or social care professionals only. Re-referrals also accepted from service users.
To refer a patient, download the referral form or contact the service on 020 3771 5990.
Sleep system leaflet for healthcare professionals
[Callout box]
In 2014 the Wheelchair and Posture Management Service were shortlisted for an HSJ award for their Pilot Study to study the impact of sleep systems for local people in HOUNSLOW requiring additional posture support in their beds.
This provided the evidence required to develop the Sleep System service which launched in August 2015.
Referrals
First referral needs to be from a GP or other Healthcare Professional working with the service user. Subsequent contact can be via self-referral.
To request an assessment for a wheelchair please complete the wheelchair services referral form.
To ensure that referrals are dealt with promptly please ensure that all fields are completed.
You can call, email or use the referral form provided.
Telephone: 020 3771 5990
Email: wheelchair.hub@nhs.net