The WestMARC Wheelchair and Seating Service provides wheelchairs (manual and powered) and children’s buggies, with postural supports if required, to people requiring wheeled mobility that are living in the West of Scotland. Services provided include:
- Clinical assessments
- Provision of equipment (wheelchairs, buggies, seating systems) tailored to patient’s needs
- Equipment repairs
Our team consists of administrative staff, technical staff, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, clinical scientists (bioengineers), nursing/medical staff and clinical psychology staff.
Making A Referral
New Service Users
Important Information
For anyone who has not used our service before, a referral form needs to be submitted by a healthcare professional or social worker registered with one of the following bodies:
- Nursing and Midwifery Council
- Health and Care Professions Council
- General Medical Council
- Scottish Social Work Council.
Wheelchair eligibility criteria
Please refer to the following information before making a referral.
Referral Guidance
Please review the relevant guidance document prior to making a referral.
Referral Forms
Please ensure you have read the guidance above before completing a referral form.
Current or Previous Service Users
Anyone who has used the wheelchair service before can self-refer if their conditions and/or requirements change by contacting the service directly for reassessment or advice.
Alternatively a healthcare professional can refer on their behalf by submitting a reporting form.
When the service receives a new referral it will be assessed by a clinician. The clinician will review the information and decide whether you require an assessment, or whether a chair can be issued from the information that has been provided. If an assessment is required, you will be added to the waiting list for a clinic appointment.
Clinic Locations
Clinics are conducted within the centre and at many satellite locations across the West of Scotland. Your appointment letter will specify the location of your appointment.
West of Scotland Mobility and Rehabilitation Centre
Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
1345 Govan Road
Glasgow
G51 4TF
There is also a depot where the service’s equipment store, repair facility and technicians are located.
Drop in repairs available Monday to Friday 9.00am to 3.45pm.
The Motherwell hub is a smaller unit and we are unable to hold all parts, so please call 0300 790 0129 in advance to confirm parts are in stock to complete the repair.
WestMARC Yoker Depot
Unit 20
Halley Street
New Albion Industrial Estate
Yoker
Glasgow
G13 4DJ
WestMARC Motherwell
Unit 33 Fern Street
Motherwell
ML1 2AJ
Satellite clinic locations
Douglas Grant Rehabilitation Centre
Ayrshire Central Hospital
Kilwinning Road
Irvine
KA12 8SS
Stirling Community Hospital
Rehabilitation Hub
Livilands Gate
Stirling
FK8 2AU
Dumfries and Galloway
Community Rehabilitation Unit
1st Floor – North Entrance
Mountainhall Treatment Centre
Bankend Road
Dumfries
DG1 4AP
Repairs
If your chair is in need of repair you should contact the service immediately. You might find Standard Wheelchair Parts helpful for explaining what part of the chair requires a repair.
Equipment is repaired free of charge by the service. Our mobile engineer repair service will usually visit and repair equipment at service users home or other suitable setting.
If a complex repair is needed than it may be necessary to bring the equipment into our workshop to carry out the work.
WestMARC Yoker depot and the WestMARC Motherwell Hub are open for drop in repairs Monday to Friday 9.00am to 3.45pm. Please see ‘Clinic Locations’ above for address details. Note, Motherwell hub is a smaller unit and we are unable to hold all parts, please call 0300 790 0129 in advance to confirm parts are in stock to complete the repair.
Equipment is loaned by the service and it is the service user’s responsibility to keep equipment in good condition.
Any accident or adverse incident that occurs with equipment provided from the service should be reported so that the service can record and followed up if necessary. This helps us to improve safety for all service users.
See here for more Information about Repairs and Maintenance and Wheelchair Terms and Conditions.
Resources
Wheelchair Maintenance/Skills
National Wheelchair Managers Forum has created the following video guides to NHS Wheelchairs that you may find instructional.
Part 1 – The Parts Of A Wheelchair
Part 2: Using A Wheelchair
Part 3: Transportation
Part 4: Maintenance
Part 5: Your NHS Wheelchair
Please see video resources created by SMART Centre, Edinburgh on wheelchair demonstration/operation. Adult Manual Wheelchair video demonstrates transporting manual wheelchair into a vehicle.
Adult User Controlled Powered Wheelchair
Children’s User Controlled Powered Wheelchair
Dual Control Powered Wheelchair
Adult Manual Wheelchair
Major Buggy Demonstration
The Wheelchair Skills College provide video resources on wheelchair skills including tutorials on cleaning castor wheels.
Back Up Trust provide information on wheelchair skills courses. Please read Wheelchair Skills College disclaimer before practising skills.
Transportation
This video from 6:09 demonstrates how to disassemble and transport your wheelchair in the boot of a car.
Please see Travel Safe Leaflet produced by Posture and Mobility group on transport of wheelchair seated passengers.
Please see video demonstration produced by Motability on How to use your Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) Tie Downs or Restraints.
The Motability Scheme helps you get mobile by exchanging your higher rate mobility allowance to lease a new affordable car, wheelchair accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair.
Power Chair Charging
Please see following advice on charging your electric powered wheelchair:
How to look after your Powerchair battery | Invacare – YouTube
Other
Please see Self Management – NHSGGC toolkit developed by NRU which educates and provides references for conditions, physical activity, getting out and about, psychological wellbeing and other helpful resources.