Personal Wheelchair Budget

What are personal wheelchair budgets (PWB)?

The Personal Wheelchair Budget (PWB) scheme gives you more choice about your wheelchair. A wheelchair therapist will decide the best wheelchair for your health needs. The price of this wheelchair becomes your PWB. You can use it to get a wheelchair that helps with more than just your health needs.

Before your appointment, think about what would make your daily life easier. This will help you choose your goals for the wheelchair.

What Happens at Your Appointment?

If you can get a wheelchair from the NHS, we will:
• Look at your health needs
• Talk about how a wheelchair can help you reach your goals
• Work with you to create a care and support plan for your wheelchair
• Help you decide how to use your PWB

Important: Once you agree on your PWB choice, we can’t offer another wheelchair if you change your mind. You can ask for a review if your health needs change.

How Can You Use Your Personal Wheelchair Budget?

You have three choices:

1: Get a free NHS Wheelchair
Choose the wheelchair the NHS picks for you.
• The NHS will loan you the wheelchair and fix it for free.
• The wheelchair belongs to the NHS. You must give it back when you don’t need it anymore.

2: Add extras to your NHS Wheelchair
You can add extra features or upgrades to your NHS wheelchair. You (or someone else) will need to pay the extra costs (including VAT).
• The NHS will fix the wheelchair’s standard parts for free. You pay for fixing the extra parts.
• The wheelchair stays the NHS’s property. You must give it back when you don’t need it anymore. You can keep the extra parts if this doesn’t make the wheelchair unsafe.

3: Choose a Wheelchair from Outside the NHS
You can use your PWB to buy a wheelchair from another NHS-approved supplier. Your PWB includes the price of your NHS wheelchair plus some money for repairs.
• The wheelchair must meet your health needs.
• You (or someone else) must pay any extra if the wheelchair costs more than your PWB.
• You must send us the quote and wheelchair details for approval before you buy.
• Used wheelchairs, scooters, or trikes are not allowed.
• You will own this wheelchair and must maintain it yourself.
• Your wheelchair should last at least 5 years. You must repair or replace it if it breaks within this time.
• You must use your PWB within 6 months. After this, you would need a new review.
• Special cushions and seating are not included. The NHS will give you these if needed.

What If I Already Have an NHS Wheelchair?

If your health needs have changed, or we agree your current wheelchair needs replacing, you can talk to us about PWB options.
Phone: 01905 520834
Email: WHCNHS.WheelchairService@nhs.net