Personal Wheelchair Budgets (PWB’S)
Our Northumbria Wheelchair Service offer Personal Wheelchair Budgets (PWB’s). These have been designed to provide wheelchair users with greater choice. This enhanced scheme has replaced the previous Wheelchair Voucher Scheme.
The three PWB options:
Notional Personal Wheelchair Budget - A standard NHS Wheelchair - (Which you do not have to pay for)
All repairs and maintenance (due to fair wear and tear) will be carried out by the NHS at no charge to you. The equipment remains the property of the NHS and must be returned when it is no longer needed.
A Notional Plus Personal Wheelchair Budget
This allows you or another agency such as a voluntary/charitable organisation to contribute to your PWB to upgrade or add extra features to the wheelchair prescribed for you.
The amount of your PWB is how much it would cost the NHS to provide a wheelchair to meet your clinical need, you pay the difference between this amount and the cost of the equipment you have chosen.
All repairs and maintenance (due to fair wear and tear) to the wheelchair will be carried out free of charge by an NHS appointment agent/therapist. This excludes any additional features and maintenance, repairs or replacements that are supplied additionally.
The equipment remains the property of the NHS and must be returned when it is no longer needed. Please note that we are unable to provide refunds or exchanges for upgrades or additional features.
Third-Party Personal Wheelchair Budget
You can use your PWB to access a wheelchair of your choice from one of our authorised suppliers outside of the NHS. This option is only available when the wheelchair therapy team agree this is clinically appropriate for you. The wheelchair you choose must meet the prescription given to you in your support plan.
If you choose a wheelchair which costs more than your PWB you will have to meet the additional cost yourself.
At your assessment, our staff will provide you with details of your PWB, a copy of your personal wheelchair prescription.
Once you have chosen your wheelchair from an authorised supplier, your choice of equipment will need to be agreed as clinically appropriate by your NHS wheelchair therapist prior to ordering/purchasing the equipment.
You will not have access to the NHS free repair service.
You will become independent of the Wheelchair Service during the PWB period. You will own the wheelchair and be responsible for the upkeep, repair, maintenance, insurance and any other associated costs. If clinically appropriate a pressure relieving cushion will be provided if on Northumbria Wheelchair Service framework. This will not affect the type or the amount of your personal wheelchair budget.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I arrange to be assessed?
If you are known to the wheelchair service, you can call us and request a reassessment. If you do not currently have a wheelchair issued by the Northumbria Wheelchair Service, your GP, or a healthcare professional can refer you for an assessment.
How long does a personal wheelchair budget last?
The PWB will be unique to you and the length of the PWB will be depend of your prescription. A typical adult wheelchair lasts 5 years. For children, changes are needed more often as they grow, typically around 3 years. More frequent changes may also be needed with some medical conditions where wheelchair needs can change quickly.
Once your personal wheelchair budget is handed over, the wheelchair service will not be able to offer you something else if you change your mind. However, you may ask for a review, should your clinical needs change.
What about insurance and maintenance?
Public Liability Insurance is strongly recommended if you are using your wheelchair in a public place, particularly if it is a powered wheelchair.