A suite of easy-to-use wheelchairs have been installed outside the Outpatient Department and by the reception in the hospital’s main entrance. These self-service stations provide four hours free access to wheelchairs for patients visiting these areas, helping to improve patients’ accessibility across the site.
Led by the Strategic Partnerships team at Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group, the initiative was recognised as a valuable opportunity to benefit patients across Lincolnshire and was shaped by feedback received from patients.
Stephen
Martin, Strategic Partnerships Manager said: “We had been hearing about patients’ frustration on arriving at hospital and there being no wheelchairs to use. Wheelshare offers people the chance to hire a wheelchair free of charge for up to four hours. Patients can access a wheelchair directly from its docking station using a credit or debit card and when they have finished, simply return it to its base, ensuring it is available for other patients to use. The new wheelchairs will be an addition to the other existing wheelchairs that remain in use across our hospital site.”
Six wheelchairs have been installed at both locations. The service is available free of charge for the first four hours, after which a charge of £2 per hour will apply.
Patients are already benefitting as, within an hour of installation, the first wheelchair was in use, helping a patient attend their outpatient appointment on time.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity has funded the scheme for one year initially with the view to making it a permanent fixture if it is proved popular with patients. Consideration will also be given to expand Wheelshare at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston and Grantham and District Hospital in the future.
Charity Manager, Ben Petts said: “As a charity we exist to provide those extra touches that help improve the lives of our patients, things which are not normally funded by the NHS. It was lovely to see that almost immediately after installation, the wheelchairs were being put to good use by our patients.”
More information on the work of United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity can be found on their website.