Specialist equipment can be expensive, but you may be able to access it for free through a local authority or NHS service. In Sheffield, there are three services that can provide specialist equipment:
- Mobility and Specialised Rehabilitation Centre: Located at the Northern General Hospital, this service can only be accessed via referral from a health professional. It provides wheelchairs and special seating for children and adults meeting the specified criteria.
- Equipment and Adaptations Team: This local authority service accepts self-referrals from families. It can provide safety equipment, like grab rails, safety gates or specialist bathing equipment.
- Integrated Community Equipment Service (ICES): This service provides the loan of aids for daily living, such as bathing, mobility, seating, toileting and bedroom equipment items, to individuals and schools. Loans must be prescribed by a health professional (e.g. Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, District Nurse), and self-referrals from families are not accepted. All special requests for equipment must also be emailed to ICES commissioning for further consideration at CES@sheffield.gov.uk