Publish date: 19 December 2022
New state-of-the-art Northumbria Wheelchair Centre opens to boost patient experience
A new joined-up wheelchair service in a state-of-the-art facility is set to boost patient experience in Northumberland and North Tyneside.
From Monday, December 12, NHS patients across Northumberland and North Tyneside with long-term conditions or physical disabilities will have increased access to experts and specialist equipment as a new Northumbria Wheelchair Centre opens at Seaton Delaval.
Wheelchair services in Northumberland and North Tyneside are coming together and operating under the new name ‘Northumbria Wheelchair Centre’.
The new facility will be a one-stop shop for the assessment of postural mobility and wheelchair patients in Northumberland and North Tyneside. It will also include new state-of-the-art training facilities, four clinic rooms and extensive warehousing facilities
The previous Wheelchair Services Centre which was located at Hawkeys Lane, North Shields, has relocated to Northumbria Healthcare Manufacturing and Innovation Hub.
Teresa Creighton, deputy director of community services at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The merging of wheelchair services in Northumberland and North Tyneside is a fantastic development and will support people, their families and carers, promote independence and improve quality of life.
“We are delighted to be moving to this brand-new centre in Seaton Delaval which includes state-of-the-art training facilities and will improve access to wheelchair services to patients in Northumberland and North Tyneside.”
Lindsay Holmes, operational manager for the wheelchair centre, added: “We have always worked to provide a high-quality service for our patients, but having all of our staff and equipment in one place, in a purpose-built facility, will ensure our team can provide the best care possible.”
The centre will provide equipment for people with a permanent, long-term condition, who need a wheelchair as part of their mobility within their own home, and who have either significantly reduced or no walking ability.
Sean Gorman, who has MS (multiple sclerosis), has been using Northumbria Wheelchair Services for more than 10 years said: “When I first started accessing the service I received a basic, lightweight, manual chair,” he said. “My circumstances now mean that I need a fully-powered wheelchair with an attendant control and Wheelchair Services have been there from the very beginning with a lightweight independent chair to the chair I have to use now.”
“It isn’t just a perfunctory relationship, you get to know the people who you’re working with. They’ve always presented me with a range of options, some that might be based on convenience and some based on me retaining as much autonomy as possible. The service considers your priorities and how you need the chair to help, but also how you would like the chair to be able to fit into your life as much as possible.”
As well as new state-of-the-art equipment, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, technical instructors, warehouse staff and regional wheelchair engineers will all be based at the new Northumbria Wheelchair Centre
Media contact
Emily Lavin, marketing and communications officer, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Emily.