When you order any electric wheelchair from us you can opt for our engineered assembly service for just £80 !

We want you to get the most from your new powerchair and enjoy many years of safe operation.

The assembly service means that one of our qualified technicians will deliver the electric wheelchair to your door, unpack and assemble and test it. They will also show you how to charge the batteries and give you instruction on the safe use of your new electric wheelchair.

This service includes all assembly and adjustment to suit the user, testing, demonstration and disposal of all packaging in responsible way.

Please note this service is not available in the highlands of Scotland, the Channel Islands nor BT post code areas.

Although the weather continues to be unseasonably wet and windy, some of you will be preparing for holidays for abroad. We have had a number of enquiries from users about taking their electric wheelchairs and powerchairs away with them and more specifically, questions about the electric wheelchair batteries and charging overseas.

Most electric wheelchair batteries supplied these days are gel filled or AGM types which are non spillable and approved for transportation both by air and by sea. These batteries rely on regular charging to ensure you maximise their usable life. If you do not charge the batteries frequently the batteries can suffer deterioration in performance and failure to hold a full charge. This can also lead to what is known as gassing and the emission of acid vapour.

It is good practice to check what type of batteries your electric wheelchair has. This is easily done by reading the sticker on the lid the next time you charge. Most are clearly stated as AGM on the label. If you cannot find this information then refer to the owner’s manual supplied when you bought the electric wheelchair.

Charging electric wheelchairs overseas

The next obstacle to overcome before you leave is the charging of the batteries overseas. If you are travelling to a country with 220 to 240 volts mains electricity then all you will need is a plug adapter to allow you to plug in. If the voltage is less than this like many European countries you need to find out if your charger will operate at 100 or 110 volts. The chargers supplied with electric wheelchairs by Sunrise Medical like the Salsa, will automatically sense the input voltage and adjust accordingly. This detail will be clearly marked on the Rating Label.

Finally if you're flying and planning on taking your electric wheelchair, you should consult the CAA web site where it lists the regulations and obligations for the preparation and loading of electric wheelchairs on board passenger aircraft, to ensure it is made safe prior to loading.

Many airlines will also insist on you providing information including the dimensions and weight of your electric wheelchair so be prepared !

Read more about travelling with electric wheelchairs and what you will need to let the airline know.

With more mobility scooters than ever on our roads and pavements i wondered how long it would be before we're presented with news on incidents and accidents involving pedestrians. With some scooters getting heavier and faster its becoming quite a problem. This however does not apply to electric wheelchairs or powerchairs as they are altogether different and are only intended for the disabled and will travel at lesser speeds.

This week Caren Jephson who has been campaigning about the dangers of mobility scooters visited Downing Street to deliver letters involving more than 300 people injured by them - all from in and around one city.

Caren Jephson, from Derby, started campaigning after her son was injured by a mobility scooter in October.

Mrs Jephson and Mid Derbyshire MP Pauline Latham took a petition to 10 Downing Street on Monday.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said a pilot scheme is being developed where users are given a sight test.

Mrs Jephson said: "The quicker they deal with the issue the fewer deaths and injuries there will be."

In the four months since starting her campaign, Mrs Jephson has received more than 300 letters and emails from people injured by mobility scooters. Please note these are not electric wheelchairs.

MPs have previously considered introducing a fit-to-drive test. All were written by people in Derby and the surrounding area.

"Derby is a small place and if you went national I'm quite sure there would be a lot more tragedies," said Mrs Jephson.

She said mobility scooters endangered users too. In June, an 88-year-old man died after his mobility scooter collided with a bus in Burton.

The charity Age UK supports the idea of voluntary training for mobility scooter users, but believes additional laws could discourage some vulnerable older people from using them.

'Drunk users'
Mrs Jephson is campaigning for the introduction of a proficiency test for mobility scooter users, to make them for disabled users only, and to have identification on scooters.

She has received claims of people using mobility scooters while drunk.

"One woman was hit by a man who came out from a nursing home [on a mobility scooter] with a can of beer in his hand," she said.

She has collected more than 3,000 paper petition signatures and recently set up an online petition.

MPs have previously considered introducing a fit-to-drive test.

A coroner also criticised the "serious lack" of regulations after a 90-year-old woman was knocked down on an Isle of Wight pavement and killed in 2009.

'Important balance'
Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "We are working with mobility vehicle trainers, retailers and others to promote more safety training in addition to developing plans for a pilot scheme in which scooter drivers are given a standard eye test. Please note this doesn't apply to electric wheelchairs.

"There is an important balance to be had between the safety of pedestrians and the mobility of those who would otherwise be left housebound."

Michelle Mitchell, charity director general at Age UK, said: "Additional laws could discourage vulnerable older people from using mobility scooters meaning that they become unable to access local services, stay in touch with friends, family or in some cases even remain independent.

"Age UK support the idea of voluntary training for the safety of drivers and other people on the road." Please note these are not electric wheelchairs.

During a recent trip to London it was great to see the increase in mobility awareness and the effort that had been made to accommodate wheelchair users. It is a far more wheelchair friendly place than it was when i was last there 3 years ago.

My first surprise was on arrival at Paddington station where we made our way to the tube station and found a number of wheelchair ramps which bridged the gap between the train and the platform. This had always been a precarious manoeuvre in the past so I was thrilled to see them in place and being used.

When I asked at one station I was told the wheelchair ramps were put in place a couple of years ago for the Olympic games and the decision has been made to leave them in place. In fact better than that there is a proposal to install more ramps at other stations and tube locations.

When i got back in front of my computer I looked it up and found this was the case and that there is also a plan to create some raised platform access for us wheelchair users. The more that can be done to make London and other cities wheelchair friendly the better.

Having been beaten in International wheelchair rugby by France only days ago, our interest as a country seems to be hotting up.

The England V France game was a fantastic match and very close with a final score of 40-42 to France. We came back in the second half from 36-6 and only failed to win after missing a conversion in extra time. Four tries from Harry Brown and two from Chris Greenhalgh helped the fight back against the unbeaten French. England, the defending world champions, also lost to France in their opening group match, going down 28-20. They then went on to beat Ireland 86-8, Wales 50-6 and Australia 81-10.

Wheelchair rugby is increasingly popular although there are only 8 teams in the UK. The South West recently formed the newest wheelchair rugby club the Westcountry Hawks who are based in Plymouth at The Life Centre and Training is On Monday Evenings between 6pm and 7pm.

The ambition to succeed amongst these wheelchair users is unbelievable and their skills on the pitch incredible. With players of all ages and both sexes it is very encouraging to see their determination and love of the game. With specialist sports wheelchairs in use there is no stopping them, as this short video shows they really are superhumans: wheelchair rugby video

As you can see there is no holding back and wheelchair rugby is very much a contact sport with frequent 'tackles' and collisions these wheelchairs are super strong and built to endure knocks on the pitch. The speed with which they cover the pitch is rapid and clearly all involved are having a great time and enjoy the ability to play a wheelchair based team sport. With these aspirations we wish them all the best for their fight to get it no the 2016 paralympics.

We all know that dogs are mans best friend and frequently we see examples of why this is and how dogs can help. Many of us wheelchair users are dog lovers too and share companionship in many ways. A friend told me to look out for something quite amazing that occurred recently in flooded Russia where mans best friend was at it again, this time helping the man in the wheelchair navigate the roads / rivers.

Wheelchair user helped by his trusty hound:

You may ask why was the man not assisted by passing motorists but it seems he is happy making progress in his wheelchair and waves the traffic on !

Known as 'Shades', Chris Hallam was probably one of the better known
pioneers of disabled sport and unfortunately died last month.

Chris Hallam MBE mastered many disabled sports  following a motorcycle
accident that left him paralysed below the chest. Best known for swimming
and wheelchair racing in the late eighties and early nineties, Chris was a
much respected character who was often described as flamboyant.

Chris was in his late 40s and lived in South Wales for most of his life. He
was probably best known for wheelchair racing and won the London marathon on two occasions.

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson called him an "icon in wheelchair sport" and is
one of very many who claim he was a massive inspiration to make them compete
in disabled sports. He had marathon victories in Paralympics in Seoul,
Atlanta and Barcelona.

Chris didn't sit still for long and was in the spot light in the late
eighties for his around Wales wheelchair ride which raised funds for the
centre for the disabled at Cardiff University.

Following his achievements in disabled sport, Chris took to coaching and
concentrated on a number of wheelchair racers from Wales as part of their
academy system.

When we hear of yet another sportsperson who has been badly injured whilst playing their chosen sport it always saddens us. Many youths each year are injured badly enough to leave them wheelchair bound with varying degrees of disability.

When we heard about one particular Northern teenager who broke his neck whilst playing rugby we were amazed to hear of his brave comments on how it is "the best thing that had ever happened to him" as he has now set his goal on becoming a wheelchair rugby paralympian. Such strength of character and signs of determination are not seen very frequently.

16 year old George from Blackburn in Lancashire has recently been offered a new specialist wheelchair to help him meet his goals. London's Rosslyn Park injury trust fund have agreed to supply a customised specialist wheelchair from their fund which is there to help people injured whilst playing rugby. He expects to receive the new chair ahead of their match against Flyde on November the 2nd.

Sports wheelchairs are very specialist items and are often designed to meet the exacting requirements of the individual user. Typically ultra lightweight and super strong the wheelchair frames and components are often made using aluminium and carbon composites to ensure that they are fit for the on the pitch action and will withstand the knocks and tumbles experienced in wheelchair rugby.

We wish George who is eagerly awaiting delivery of the new chair all the best and hope that he provides inspiration for others who have had the misfortune of similar life changing injuries.

I read recently of the poor man from Cornwall whose wheelchair was damaged on a return flight from Thailand. It reminded me of the importance of having adequate insurance provision at all times and not just when you embark on international travel.

Like buying anything else, there's insurance and there's insurance. Wheelchairs generally warrant having their own specialist insurance particularly when your wheelchair is at all specialist. The other consideration with a specialist wheelchair is that if yours is damaged, how long will it take to get a replacement wheelchair and how will you cope in the meanwhile?

The majority of the wheelchairs we sell are available immediately and do not require a special order nor special build. Prescriptive wheelchairs generally come under this category but not always. There are some models that ate effectively assembled to order and reflect the specific requirements of the wheelchair user. If you come under this category, insurance alone is not going to resolve the situation and a back up wheelchair is always a good plan.

Going back to insuring wheelchairs, it is important to understand that general travel insurance will not provide cover for wheelchairs. Off the shelf insurance doesn't cater for specialist requirements and generally a special endorsement is required to ensure you have the right cover. General advice is to make sure you mention that you are travelling with a wheelchair when you buy insurance and ensure that it is mentioned specifically in the policy document. Also make sure that the single item claim amount is enough to cover your wheelchair, as often it is limited to a sum of £250 or similar.

The man in question had had his very expensive wheelchair damaged in transit and was uninsured. His custom built titanium wheelchair worth £3600 was damaged beyond repair and the local mobility engineer condemned it as a right off. He is now not only without his wheelchair but is also potentially over £3000 out of pocket. No one is being held responsible for the damage.

A quick look at the law shows that under the Montreal Convention, airlines are only liable to pay compensation of up to £1,350 for baggage damaged in the aircraft hold. This is irrespective of whether you can prove that the goods, or wheelchair in this case was not stowed properly during transit.

So wherever you are going for your holidays, whether in the UK or further afield and overseas, please please make sure you have adequate insurance cover and a backup plan for your valuable wheelchair !

Pete Donelly's recent news video for the BBC 'Top Tips for Wheelchair users' is a great watch for wheelchair users and others alike. Giving a real insight in to the daily life of wheelchair users Pete seems to have adapted brilliantly and copes with virtually all conditions of a normal city life.

Pete suffered paralysis following a motorbike accident at the age of 19 when a T6 back brake ended his walking life. This doesn't seem to have stopped Pete one little bit and his video shows this. He covers many aspects including self propelled wheelchair technique, including posture and self transfer in to and out of the wheelchair in seconds !

Watch his wheelchair skills video here

His self propelled wheelchair is a bit specialist and would suit only the younger more agile wheelchair user but does allow him to conquer all sorts including flights of stairs. The video includes some tips for more active wheelchair users including the back wheel balance which, as he points out is an important start to a number of daily manoeuvres including going up and down kerbs, ramps and steps. His agility and control is very impressive and while he is young and has good upper body strength, being in a wheelchair isn't going to prevent him from missing out on much.

As Pete says his wheelchair skills allow him to live the kind of life he wants to live, including of course going to the pub, the video shows Pete managing his pint whilst propelling himself back from the bar. By swapping hands from pint to wheelchair rim he makes it look so easy !
His wheelchair is fitted with a video camera for the article and much of the footage is taken from this camera and gives a great perspective of the wheelchair in use and more so Pete's experience and control.

In fact Pete's appetite for life is enormous and the accident and being wheelchair bound doesn't prevent much, including a parachute jump, his ambitious travel plans and recent trips to Asia and Bangladesh where he has worked as a volunteer. and This really is a must watch for wheelchair users and others - he's a great source of inspiration.

Following various charity trips Pete now works for Back Up as a wheelchair skills adviser and i'm sure will make a huge difference to the younger more adventurous user of wheelchairs.