Integrated care partnership opens new wheelchair and specialist seating service centre

Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP) has opened a new purpose-built wheelchair service facility to help deliver excellent services to patients situated within the East Cheshire, South Cheshire and Vale Royal areas.

Based at Infinity House in Crewe, the service provides initial and ongoing assessment and prescription of manual and powered wheelchairs, specialised seating, modifications, accessories, and pressure cushions for wheelchairs. It provides a comprehensive service for people of all ages with long-term mobility problems and associated postural needs, in accordance with statutory requirements.

The assistive technology facility features two clinical rooms, which include a multi-direction and bariatric specialist hoist, a workshop area, a spacious waiting area, and an extensive storage room. This storage room holds various styles of wheelchairs available for patients to potentially take away on the day of their appointment.

Tony Mayer, Associate Director of CCICP, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to offer such an amazing purpose-built facility for patients across East and Central Cheshire. The wheelchair services team have always provided an excellent service and now they have the facilities to match their high standards.”

The workshop area will enable engineers to fix and modify a patient’s wheelchair to suit their needs and in addition, allows a quicker service for patients using the service.

Mary Foulerton, Advanced Clinical Specialist for Wheelchair Services, added: “It is great to provide our patients with a smart, spacious and well kitted out facility. We have had a lot of positive feedback about the new location and have seen the benefit of patients using the extra space to test out equipment. Having a second clinic room also means we can have two clinics operating at one time thereby shortening service users’ waiting times.”

During the pandemic, the integrated care partnership used video consultations to continue treating patients and ensuring they could do their vital rehabilitation. Using virtual consultations, physiotherapists were able to safely assess, diagnose and treat patients, demonstrate and practice exercises to build a tailored programme, and provide instant advice that will improve a condition.