Hi there, my name is Sarah Robinson. I am 39 years old and a resident of Chapel-en-le-Frith. Due to complications at birth, I have Cerebral Palsy, which results in chronic pain stemming from osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and daily nerve pain issues.
I p
ride myself on my independence and strive to live independently with the assistance of my carers and the equipment provided to me, including my electric wheelchair, which I use full-time as I am unable to walk. While the wheelchair itself is provided by the NHS, additional adaptations to make it more comfortable and functional are not covered, as they are considered luxuries. However, for me, these adaptations are essential to ease my pain and improve my quality of life.
Currently, I struggle to remain in my chair for extended periods due to constant pain in my back, hips, and legs. This has had a huge impact on my social life. I used to be able to spend all day in my chair and travel to places all over the country, I can no longer do this because of the pain. Additionally, I suffer from sleep apnea, which has worsened due to discomfort, recently resulting in an incident where I fell asleep while shopping at my local supermarket.
The adaptations I require for my wheelchair include:
- A seat riser
Adding this feature to my chair would greatly improve my independence. I would be able to reach higher shelves in shops, eliminating the need to wait for assistance when shopping. This addition would be life-changing.
- Individual powered leg rests
I've requested specific footrests for my chair, knowing they're available for my model. However, I've been told that only standard footrests are funded by the NHS. These footrests would help reduce pain from arthritis in my hips and knees by allowing me to elevate my legs. They would also prevent my feet from bouncing off while driving on uneven paths by allowing positional adjustments.
In conclusion.... and thank you, so very much!
Currently, the NHS does not cover these necessary adaptations, viewing them as non-essential. This is why I a For me, however, they are crucial to managing my pain and enhancing my daily independence. Your support in helping me acquire these adaptations would significantly improve my quality of life, and go a long way to improving my mental health.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading my story, and also for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Sarah