Southend Wheelchair Service Karen Christensen Head of OT, Wheelchairs and Equipment Services Directorate of Integrated Adult Services

Who Are We? A community wheelchair service funded by South East Essex PCT A team comprising therapists, technicians and administrative staff (8 wte) Based at Southend Integrated Resource Centre, alongside the OT team, Equipment Service and Minor Adaptations Project

What Do We Do? Provide equipment to meet peoples long term mobility, seating and pressure care needs Provision is free Service is provided in accordance with criteria set down by SEHA Long term need is considered to be over 6 months Service is from birth

A Bit of Background Active caseload of ca.3500 clients, of whom 10% are children 1500 referrals per annum Assessments take place in clinics, day centres, at home or in the workplace, at specialist and general hospitals Waiting lists are operated as demand exceeds available resources

Specialist Services For the most complex needs resulting in long term postural instability we refer to the Regional Special Seating Service at Harold Wood Currently there are 80 clients who have custom made contoured seating supplied A full episode of care from referral to provision of the bespoke seating is ca. 1 year

Budget Non staff budget currently £ 647k 45% of funding pays for approved repairers, special seating and rehabilitation engineering contracts Average cost of an EPIOC £ 10,000 EPIOC funding increased from £53k to £148k this financial year

Waiting Lists As at September 2006: 52 clients waiting for an occupational therapy assessment, max. 12 months 57 clients waiting for an assistant assessment, max wait 3 months 34 clients waiting for assessment for indoor/outdoor power chair, max wait 4.5 years

Electrically Powered Indoor/Outdoor Chairs (EPIOCs) Currently 78 EPIOC users ( = 2% of total) Assessment involves cognitive function, vision, environment, H & S, therapist Waiting list vs. costs vs. funding vs. priority LDP bid successful – increased funding from £53k to £148k

How are we improving the Service? Purchased stock of EPIOCs with additional funding Identified funding and employed 2 full time OTs Continue to work with the Regional Special Seating Centre to look at ways of improving their service delivery Continue the Wheelchair Accredited Assessors Course Re-launch our Wheelchair User Group