'Trainee' disabled newby seeking advice from 'well practiced' disabled scooter users

[Lighttouch]

Catlover,

Just for your info here are details of the new Wheelchair Assessment Centre that has been rebranded and moved to 'all singing, dancing' new offices from Monday 11 August. This unit is part of the NHS Foundation Trust.

Specialised Ability Centre Manchester
Ability House, 56 Altrincham Road, Sharston, Manchester M22 4NY
Tel re Wheelchairs 0161 611 3800

When I was assessed they took into account my access needs and customised the agreed manual wheelchair to make it as comfy as possible.

In reality the manual wheelchair wasn't a good idea as I do lots of stuff on my own and I can't self-propelled with one arm not working.

They have excellent, knowable staff and great buying power. I wonder if you went through them whether they could suggest a mix and match scooter incorporating desirable features from both and customising one to incorporate these features.

I think in this day and age there should be some sort of digital website where they give you the skeleton of a scoter that you can build on and customise to suit your needs.

My contact here was Sue Day
sue.day@uhsm.nhs.uk or her direct line 0161 611 3231

They will have loads of scooters to test out too!

[Fliss]

You're right I think, there's always a compromise! Sounds like a good plan to have a scooter in mind when you finally get your PIP result, I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Apologies I hadn't noticed the dolly basket on the Pride Apex. Sounds sensible to me to give a Go Go a good runabout as a trial of a scooter without suspension, and see how your back is. The Eclipse looks comfy and much nicer. Funny was thinking about you working out what you need (and all the various wheels and bits of kit I use) and realised that although no one really wants to be using any of them, there's a bit more emotion involved than I sometimes allow! So I reckon you've got to like whatever you end up with.

But glad you braved a showroom yesterday. They never quite tell you what you need to know do they? Reckon we should open a shop!!

Flymo I didn't know the new wheelchair services centre had scooters as well, that's interesting. I got my manual wheelchair via them.

[Flymo]

To my knowledge, the NHS does not supply scooters anywhere in the country, though it's possible there is a facility to view and/or try scooters that you have to buy privately.

[Fliss]

Thanks Flymo, I'm certain the NHS doesn't provide scooters so I assumed LT meant scooters to try, etc. I'm sure he will tell us! Be great if they do.

[catlover]

I didn't know about that place, Lighttouch. Will look into it. What I need is somewhere that has all the scooters I am interested in and can spend some time getting them all out so that I can do a direct comparison of various factors, including a try on each of them within the showroom.

I like the idea of a customised scooter! What I really like is the idea of a TGA Eclipse with suspension! If that existed I'd look no further Fliss, you are right about the emotional aspect. I was the same when I used a manual wheelchair. If I have to use something like this I want something that I like the look of and that I feel expresses my personality a bit. Something that I enjoy using.

I may be going to the motability roadshow at Yorkshire event centre on Thursday. still a bit up in the air as I'm not sure my car is up to a journey of that length until I get the rest of the repairs done, and I think I might feel too anxious about it all to attempt the drive. However, I booked a scooter some time ago and also booked the day off work so I am keeping my options open. I might get to look at scooters there but my main aim is to look at hoists and talk to suppliers about what hoist for an Eclipse and what car it will (or more importantly wont) fit into. Hopefully I'll manage a test drive or two as well.

[beau]

I agree with you that you need to get something that you like the look of and fits your needs and personality. Too big an expense to accept a make do. I have lots of sticks and choose them like I would any fashion accessory like a handbag or shoes. My walking frames I have personalised to fit me with stickers and charms.

[Lighttouch]

I was curious about portable scooters so did a little research.

Where you can try an Eclipse on-site

Simplyhealth Salford Disabled Living
Burrows House
10 Priestley Road
Wardley Industrial Estate
Worsley
Manchester
M28 2LY
Find us on Google maps

Tel: 0800 980 7435
We are open: Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5.00pm

Hiring about different models.
I found a place where you could try out the Eclipse and asked if I could loan the scooter out for a week. She said no as it would invalidate their scooter and rider insurance.

I asked if I could change the small basket for a bigger one.
She said you can't as the basket was in proportion to the scooter and if a bigger basket was added it would affect the handling.

I asked if any portable scooters had suspension.
No they are not designed to accommodate suspension.

Could I change the solid tyres foe ones with pneumatic tyres.
No all portable scooters have solid tyres.

Battery life.
The twin batteries should last between 18 - 24 months before replacing.

If you wanted lighter longer lasting lithium batteries look at TGA Minimo. Very portable but expensive.

[Chris_Rica]

Forum members may be interested in the Rica blog post: I bought my mobility scooter online

Rica is an independent consumer charity that focusses on research with older and disabled people. Also check out our consumer research panel

Chris @rica

[AlexConnoll]

Hi Annie,

UKS Mobility have a great range of mobility scooters. The staff are more than helpful and do everything they can to meet your requirements.

I have always had a positive experience when using this brand to care for family members who have difficulties with mobility.

There website is.
http://www.uksmobility.co.uk/scooters

Hope this helps.

[catlover]

Thanks Lighttouch for the info. However, I think the person you spoke to wasn't very well informed as s/he appears to have given you incorrect information on many points. I suspect by portable they were maybe thinking of the really small, lightweight scooters that fold up. You obviously can get a portable "boot" scooter with suspension as the Pride Apex Rapid which I tried at the weekend has suspension. The Pride go go Sport also has chair suspension. The liteway 4 plus has suspension too. Maybe the person you spoke to is not thinking of those as portable scooters but they do come apart into 4/5 pieces to get into a car and are considered boot scooters. The basket thing baffles me and personally I think they are just spouting what they are told. for example, the Apex I tried at the weekend had a smaller basket on than the smaller, more lightweight models with a similar tiller. For it's class, it's a fairly solid scooter. Heavier than smaller ones so I can't see how a slightly bigger basket would affect the handling or balance (I'm just talking about the normal sized basket you tend to get on scooter not something the size of a supermarket basket!). I have actually swapped baskets around on hire scooters without any problem (or objection from the place I was hiring it from). There are also scooters that offer you the option of pneumatic or solid tyres (kymco I think offer this).

Anyway, I didn't post to criticise your info! I appreciate the information.

Hire wise, I have found somewhere that would hire me the eclipse on a longer term hire (6 months minimum) but frankly for what I'd pay over 6 months I could have bought a new one.

http://www.mobilitygiant.co.uk/shop/...ery-pack-hire-

This place hires out mobility scooters but only a specific scooter

http://www.thewheelchaircentre.co.uk/Hire-of-Equipment

Can't find the link I was looking for but I've found one that will hire a pride go go at about £35 for a week. Plus £150 deposit that you get back 7 days after returning it. That's fine but it's not local and collection and return is almost £40 each way so it would work out pretty expensive!

I've also found a couple of places that do a try before you buy thing where you can hire a scooter for a week or so and then you get that refunded off the price if you buy it

However, there is no point in doing this unless I can hire the eclipse (looking unlikely) or something similar (I'd give the go go a try if I can hire it for a reasonable price) since the main purpose is to see how it performs in different environments so that I can purchase in confidence that I am buying something that will work for me. I've googled so many places now I forget which ones I've investigated and which ones I glanced it in passing and meant to go back to.

Oh well. I've certainly learnt a lot about scooters and think the Eclipse is top of the leader board at the moment. The Pride Apex is a strong contender but only if I can swap the stupid doll's basket for something more reasonable (I don't care whether they approve of you doing this, I just need to find out whether it is possible). The Pride go go sport seemed to have bigger wheels which might help getting up small kerbs. Quite interested in the kymco mini too but I think those are a bit more expensive than the Pride go go and Eclipse.

ETA - found the link for the Pride hire - it's not the go go but they do 2 models

http://www.mobilityhire.com/traveller-plut.html

I'd go for that if it wasn't for the delivery and collection charges.