Shocking Experiences: When Mobility Aids are Taken Away

[@Wheelsnoheels]

I hope you are all having a good weekend? Do feel free to share any experiences you may have about being separated from your mobility aids. And if you have any tips, make sure to share them as well. Links mentioned Restrictive practise. www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Restrictive-Practices-easy-read-Email-Verison.pdf Videos mentioned Why I use a wheelchair if I can walk. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5a3mJJrf8aXhZYsi=-EtpAmdvPekNq0Zy Dumped in an aisle chair for 2 hours kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqiueIlsh7SCpcUsi=SY-_PBlidYS8-esr Videos you may enjoy Reacting to that viral video kzbin.info/www/bejne/onzCnWpojqybrdk Disability News kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYG5kpSqjMd1h6c

[@BrianGeraghty77]

“@wheelsnoheels I don’t know if you want this is the month balancing and but I noticed when I go into hospital if I want to charge my phone that socket for the charger is at least three or 4 feet away from the bed which means I can’t reach the phone due to a extremely short charger cable. That means if I need to make a phone call, I usually want to have to use my voice and put it on speaker. I also have to make sure that the mobile data is turned on because I am not allowed connect to the Hospital Wi-Fi. I also use my phone, to read things to me such as emails webpages and such like.’

[@T3hXinro]

A related issue: Many non-speaking people deal with having their speech devices taken away from them in hospital and police settings. It's absolutely critical that a non-speaking person has full access to their speech device at all times but some people just see them as "toys" and remove them. Awful, awful thing to do.

[@bonnieharris4538]

It's just absolutely disgusting that you would even do that, but worryingly I just realised how much more easily it could happen nowadays, given that there are speech to text apps you can just put on Ipads and tablets!

[@Wee_Morag]

I went into hospital for a planned operation. Just before I was due to go down to theatre, I put a large laminated sign on my wheelchair stating it was personal property, and bike locked it to the armchair in my room!

[@miribmakesitbetter5269]

As an EMT (in the US), there are actually two things we are concerned with when transporting mobility aids. The minor one is loss of or damage to the mobility aid. Far more important is the (at least here) legal requirement that all objects in the ambulance must be strapped down while the vehicle is moving in case of accident -- a flying object in the back of an ambulance can kill occupants, and the larger and heavier it is the higher the risk. None of the ambulances I work on have the means to strap down a power wheelchair safely. Therefore, it would be considered my fault if I were to transport a patient with that wheelchair and any occupant of the ambulance were to be injured by said device. I regularly use extra seatbelts or similar to strap down walkers, rollators, etc., and if a wheelchair folds I can also strap it down easily enough in most ambulances. Even a manual non-folding wheelchair may be manageable. I place canes on the stretcher with the patient and strap it down with them. I understand the need for people to have their mobility aids. But if transporting a mobility aid could potentially lose me my certification, that will mean I can never help anyone again. Yes, ambulances should have ways to fasten these devices safely. However, also consider that a power wheelchair is much bigger than a manual one and it would be hard to find the physical space to do so as well. We would need to have larger ambulances to accommodate these devices. When I can, I bring the device. But some devices won't fit safely in a way that can be strapped down and thus are hazards when the ambulance is in motion. Ultimately, my goal is to get you where you are going safely. Sometimes I cannot do that and also bring your large mobility device.

[@kelly1827]

You beat me to it -- most ambulances aren't designed to safely secure wheelchairs. If you have a family member or friend who can safely transport it that is a much better option.

[@ixykix]

Emergency ambulances aren't usually equipped with tie downs I think. Some might be, but I'm not sure. I have regular hospital transport in an ambulance, but that company mainly transports outpatients or people leaving hospital. In those vehicles, my powerchair is strapped down on all 4 tie down points. I'm very glad of it, as it weighs as much as a small adult without me in it. Manual chairs though, there needs to be provision for this. They can usually be stowed without tie downs, by folding them and strapping them around the entire wheelchair. The main issue is chairs that can't be folded. But this really needs looking at. Properly. Accessible solutions have been found for bariatric patients and solutions need to be considered and implemented for wheelchair users.

[@miribmakesitbetter5269]

@@ixykix Just keep in mind, the only change that needed to be made to carry bariatric patients was to design wider stretchers. There is no physical space in most ambulances for a wheelchair so larger vehicles are needed which will take a lot longer to switch to. Replacing us$10k stretchers is much cheaper and easier than replacing us$1million ambulances. I can see some transport agencies having one or two for the few patients who need them but asking for every ambulance in an emergency fleet to be replaced will take time. Don't get me wrong, it should be done, but when most agencies can't afford a living wage for their staff due to low insurance reimbursement, replacing ambulances takes a long time.

[@TheMazinoz]

Good on you. Maybe you need to explain to patients or family your reasoning unfortunately.

[@miribmakesitbetter5269]

@@TheMazinoz I try to.

[@sharonobryan9713]

When my daughter gave birth the first time, I was her birthing coach. The nurses tried to take my manual chair because they needed it for another mother. Possibly because I had "stood," leaning on the side of her hospital bed to hold onto her, in the final stages.

[@arielfrancis2734]

That's so crazy to me that it's an issue with hospital staff. I could understand another patient or another patient's family being confused, but the staff?! You would think they could spot a personal wheelchair vs a public one. (Edit "bring" to being)

[@vm1776]

mistaking a personal versus a public wheelchair is a fear of mine. usually public ones have a label of the facility on them but not always. I had surgery last year and needed to be in a wheelchair during recovery. I'm thinking about using the wheelchair when I take my kids to an amusement park this weekend because, I know that standing on concrete is still painful for me and while I can walk, I haven't been on my feet for hours at a time since before the surgery and a trip with the kids shouldn't be an endurance challenge. But I am concerned that if I get out of the chair to go on a ride, will the chair be mistaken for one owned by the park or be played with by a kid, I guess I need to find some way to decorate it that I won't find annoying but will make it clear that it's personal, if for no other reason than my own peace of mind.

[@amandamandamands]

@@vm1776 If you have a small bike lock or one of the ones used for motorbikes you should be able to put a lock on it while it is waiting for you (don't know if it is feasible, just came to mind hearing about the people who lock their wheelchair to their bed in hospital)

[@arthurvasey]

Paint it in garish colours or paint your name on it!

[@Wheelsnoheels]

this really gets to me how professionals in this field can't recognise the difference between a personal wheelchair and a hospital chair , its almost offensive , i try to pimp more a bit without adding to much weight , at the moment i have different badges pinned to the back of my wheelchair that I'm collecting , thanks for sharing 🙂

[@wheelz9417]

This happened to me. The ambulance team assured me the hospital would have one to borrow whilst I was in hospital. I spent twelve days confined to a bed. As there were no spare wheelchairs in the hospital. Was not a good experience.

[@disableddramaqueen9602]

The same thing happened to me and they actually took the chair away through the curtains so I couldn’t even yell. Hey I actually need that although when I posted my full story, Gem made a comment that I agree with 1000% that there should be some sort of marker on the end of our beds stating that we’re not able to get up on our own And that we need a wheelchair so that doesn’t keep happening

[@conniegarvie]

Two years ago, I was transported to the local Emergency Room in excruciating pain. My colon had ruptured. I required emergency surgery to save my life and I received a colostomy that I named "Galloping Gertie, after a famous Washington state bridge. In normal situations, I use my power wheelchair. I have many debilitating issues and I have POTS, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. This means I faint a lot when I stand up. I have awful pain and disability in both of my shoulders. That means I can't propel myself in a manual wheelchair. I wasn't able to take my powerchair with me in the ambulance (it doesn't fold and it weighs >350 lbs by itself.) So, after I started to recover, the nurses kept trying to force me to walk up and down the hall and off course, I fainted (twice). Then they wanted me to use a manual chair, because my powerchair was still at my girlfriend's. Eventually, after 10 days, the hospital discharged me to an Acute Rehab facility. I was there for almost three weeks. They tried the manual chair again. Of course, I couldn't use it. They wanted me to go outside, upstairs to activities, etc. And there was NO One to push me. I started trying to get my own powerchair first to the hospital and then the Rehab location . Our Paratransit network refused to bring the chair to me because I would not be riding with it! I tried to have my girlfriend bring it up and they refused that, too! Eventually, my son went to my girlfriend's house, placed the chair on the bus, paid the fair and then followed the Paratransit bus to the rehab facility. This occurred only 4 days before I was discharged home. When I left the facility, I rode the Paratransit bus. My sons drove to my house carrying all the stuff that I accumulated over the almost month I'd been away from home. It was so much trauma again. I have pretty significant medical PTSD and this just made it worse. Having my desperately needed mobility aid taken away by circumstance was awful. I hope it doesn't happen again to me. Gem, thank you so much for your wonderful videos and especially this one. I appreciate you! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜!

[@Timothy-NH]

Back in my EMS days, nearly 35 years ago, we had a call with someone with a power chair. There was really no way we could have put that into the ambulance, but being a company that also had wheelchair vans (I loved working the wheelchair vans!), we dispatched one of out wheelchair vans to go pick up the chair and bring it to the hospital. I suspect that most ambulance services have wheelchair vans and should 100% provide this service. It is not realistic to expect an ambulance crew to load a power chair into an ambulance. A manual chair, that's a different story.

[@barbarahenninger6642]

I wonder if you can get insurance for a mobility chair?

[@Klex2603]

When you talked about people having chairs or other aids taken away at a theatre I want to share my experience. I have worked Front of House at multiple theatres for many years, and I have been disgusted that we were always trained to leave anyone with mobility issues in the building during evacuations. There was no plan in place to even return their aids before we left them. This causes me so much anxiety whenever I have to use a chair. It is terrifying.

[@Dee-rt8nd]

I've experienced this as well while in the hospital. I am a wheelchair user also. I understand hospitals have to make sure that you are able to operate your mobility aide safely : especially, if you've had a stroke or something. However, I was ill and had not had a stroke but they confined me to bed. It was very scary 😢 as well as dehumanizing. My autonomy was denied. I was very angry too. I was not able to voice my desires. I was too ill. Since I used to be able to walk, I had a hard time convincing the staff that I no longer was able to walk. I am not a small person and I believe that also had a part in the care I received... Left for most of shifts w/o contact or help.

[@Dee-rt8nd]

How can we put things in motion at the Federal level and state and county and city level in the US and everywhere so that RMS have to take w/c with you on ambulance and hospital protocol changes to a STANDARD OF CARE that incorporates a identifer that displays a recognize sign that you are a full wheelchair user unable to evacuate in an emergency and to get yourself in and out of be?

[@disableddramaqueen9602]

So this actually did happen to me. I had a kidney stone one semester when I was living at my college in my dorm and they called 911 for me took me away and an ambulance and I told them I was a wheelchair user and that I needed to take my wheelchair now I normally use a power chair, but I did have a manual one in the lobby of my dorm just sitting there. and it’s completely foldable like everything folds, including the back and I have it as a back up wheelchair when I can’t use my power chair when the EMTs got there I let them know I was Wheelchair user and I asked them if they would take my wheelchair and they refused and asked Security to bring it which campus Security actually also refused so I was taken to the hospital and they told me in the ambulance, they would tell the charge nurse that I was a wheelchair user and that I had no ability to walk at all unfortunately I was brought in right before the shift change so they told the nurse at the time that I was a wheelchair user but no one told the next shift that I could not walk they also denied me my service animal in the ER as well and they refused to take him in the ambulance which luckily my best friend was like I will hold onto him while you go to the ER although I understand that now I was in severe pain and I could not move so I wasn’t really mad about that but just explaining the level of assistance that I need when they brought me in, they did set a hospital wheelchair next to my bed but because the new staff didn’t know that I could not walk at all they actually took that chair to use for another patient so I was getting up. It wasn’t until the patient said screaming in severe pain. She really has to use the bathroom. She’s been screaming for a while. Why aren’t you guys paying attention and the nurses came in and said well why didn’t you get up and tell us you were in pain and I said I’m a full-time Wheelchair user I cannot get up on my own and they’re like why weren’t we told this and I’m like I don’t know I told EMTs, and then they asked me where my wheelchair was and I told them the EMT denied my wheelchair so I was stuck in a bed for hours on end with no way of getting up or down if I needed it and almost peed myself because the nurse weren’t paying attention luckily when I was just charged about a couple hours later campus, Security did bring me a wheelchair when they came to pick me up because I also cannot drive or I would’ve taken myself but Wheelchair did not have a seatbelt and they took me back on a bus and they did not tie it down so I was very scared. Something was gonna happen to me and I was also ignored because I have CP so I have frequent muscle spasms, and the staff had basically made up their mind that what was wrong with me was just a spasm and I needed to calm downafter CAT scans it was revealed that I actually had a very severe kidney stone and they were denying me pain medication for the 5 1/2 hours. I was there because they were convinced it was a spasm and then it would pass obviously I also asked to speak to whoever was in charge of the ER that night and they were extremely apologetic. They said that the previous team that was on staff neglected to tell them that I was a Wheelchair user and that I was nonambulatory, and it wasn’t even written down in my chart and they don’t normally do stuff like this, and they were extremely sorry that their staff was ignoring me basically the entire night, and the reason Camp denied Wheelchair because they have Wheelchair at the hospital. You don’t need to bring yours, but this kind of highlights why I did to bring my own because if they had seen a custom wheelchair, they would’ve known that I was a Wheelchair user I also spoke to the head of campus security and was told that this would never happen again and that they would insist on bringing my wheelchair up if anything like this were to happen again because like I said it’s Wheelchair that folds all the way down to the floor. It’s very small it would not have been hard for them to bring it, and the head of campus Security was really apologetic as well but here’s where it really becomes interesting about a week later my roommate had a gallbladder stone and also had to be transported via ambulance to the ER and also uses a wheelchair I called campus security because that was procedure for them to call 911 for you. You couldn’t call yourself to the school. They came by they recognize me and I said my roommate needs to go to the hospital, but I wanna let you know that she uses a wheelchair and you have to make sure the EMTs take her wheelchair. If you don’t she will be left in bed unattended and no one will check in on her because they have no way of knowing she’s in a wheelchair now head of campus security wasn’t on call that night so the supervisor for campus. Security shows up instead and tells me that she’s gonna be laying in a bed so it doesn’t matter if we bring her Wheelchair it’s not that big a deal and I explained to her my experience and I said if you don’t, I will be calling the police because you were denying our civil rights, and the EMTs I told them how her chair folds. I helped them disassemble it for her and they took it, but I don’t think this should be much of a fight, considering how much we rely on those and it’s incredibly dangerous because hospital staff have no way of knowing you use a wheelchair unless they see it and things can go wrong so I really think it needs to be common practice that EMTs bring someone’s medical aid if they requested and if it’s capable of being with them, I understand if it’s a power assist, it may not be able to be brought, but manual absolutely should be by the way the supervisor that told my roommate that she didn’t need her chair because she was gonna be laying in bed the whole time anyway she ran into my mom the next semester when I had to use my manual chair for a week because I was getting my new power chair and I couldn’t bring both in my car and have the space for the new one and as we were unpacking, my mom goes back down to get one of my suitcases and the fire alarm goes off so she goes up to the public safety officer that’s leading the evacuation and tries to go back in she stops my mom andshe says my daughter is upstairs. I need to get to her can you tell me if this is a real emergency or if it’s just a drill she rudely tells my mother that she doesn’t need to know that information then my mom yells yes I do. She’s in a wheelchair. She’s on the fourth floor the elevators are shut down she’s panicking because she cannot push her wheelchair by herself, she told you guys she would be in for the first 24 hours after moving by email. I need to get up there and if you don’t let me up there, I’m gonna call the dean of students and the head of the university and then finally she was up there. She actually let go from her job because of the way she acted towards me and my mother, and this was the same woman that denied both me and my roommate our chairs so naturally after hearing this, the university was horrified and suspended her and then fired her. Sorry for not using period I use voice to text and it will not let me unless it decides to unfortunately irks anybody I apologize

[@Wheelsnoheels]

thank you for sharing all that with us , im sorry you had such a horrible experience their sounds like their was a lot of ignorance going on with your care , sometimes something as simple as a wheelchair sign or tag on the hospital bed if your a user could help make staff aware of the situation if communication breaks down ❤

[@disableddramaqueen9602]

@@Wheelsnoheels 100% I think that’s a really good idea that if you can’t bring the wheelchair for whatever reason put a tag on the bed that says not ambulatory so that people know that they rely on that Wheelchair I think would’ve made that experience a little bit easier and it would’veparticulated and a time where I couldn’t really do that

[@YochevedDesigns]

Medical PTSD is already a thing most of us can relate to. Add panic attacks at the loss of your freedom tools, and it is an absolute nightmare THAT DOESN'T NEED TO HAPPEN!

[@LJC82SR]

While I was working on our assisted travel check in (for the airline I work for, not the assisted travel providers), I had a customer try to take my wheelchair. I had transferred out of it because the check in desks are quite high and, while I can check people in from my chair, it's not ideal to be head height with the top of the desk! Me and a colleague had to be quite forceful and explain that it was my own wheelchair and the airport ones were with our assisted travel partners. I'm kind of glad my colleague was there to place hands on my wheelchair as I wasn't keen on it disappearing off to Fuerteventura without me. I just picked one of our destinations off the top of my head because I don't remember exactly where the customer was travelling to.

[@lostdarkysoul]

When I took my children and husband to see Disney on ice last year. I told them on the phone,I use a wheelchair and I didn't need a wheelchair seat because I can walk a small distance, and I'd have been separated from my family and had to pay extra for the Privilege. So I said with support I can walk down 2 steps to a regular seat. What they didn't tell me was I wouldn't be allowed to keep my wheelchair near by. I had to take it to 'wheelchair storage' at the literal other side of the arena. (or at least my husband had to because I can't walk that far). I was the only one in my seating area that needed a wheelchair but didn't stay sitting in it, so there was loads of room 2 rows back (on the main concourse) to keep my wheelchair near me and not in the way. When I asked what do I do if I need the toilet during the performance or if there's a fire? and they said, you'll have to wait until the interval and go get it because wheelchair storage isn't manned during performances. All this was found out just before the show started, when we sat in our seats, so I felt I had no choice but to oblige. If they'd have told me on the phone when I booked tickets, that was the case, I maybe wouldn't have booked at that particular arena. All I can say is I'm glad my kids had fun and I have a fairly big bladder or I think I'd have 'walked' out and lost £250. I'm certainly not doing it again in a hurry.

[@HeidiSholl]

I work in a theatre and unfortunately I think this might be the case for most venues (at least in the UK). Depending on the size of the mobility aid, and excluding people sitting in their wheelchair to watch the show, it can't be kept in the auditorium. Walking sticks and walkers that can easily be folded up flat we can sometimes safely put inside against a wall because we do have some room for that, but isles need to be clear of any obstructions in the event of an evacuation. The only other option we have is putting them outside the door where we luckily can monitor them. Of course if you're sitting in your wheelchair, or you're in a box and not in the main body of the auditorium, you can keep any mobility aids on you. It's one of those things where theatres weren't built with accessibility in mind, even newer ones like the one I work in. It does need to be looked into and done better, even if that means potentially less seating to make room.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

i have had similar experiences ,you do feel as though you have to comply for the sake of the evening , better trained staff and a little more information would help , i do ask as many questions as i can when im booking for myself these days , thank you for sharing🙂

[@lauravanimpe3173]

Having to pay extra for accessible seating is such a vile thing. I haven't encountered it myself and it's illegal in The Netherlands. However accessible seating is often on the expensive first row, so in effect you still pay more than if you could walk. And like you said, you're still separated from your family, which is ridiculous.

[@Roadent1241]

... "What If there's a fire?" "Wait until the interval." Yeah as if fire's gonna be "oh sorry mate, you go ahead and crawl to your wheelchair, I'll wait."

[@TifTafsArtsAndCrafts]

While not a mobility aid- I’ve had people (mostly teachers) grab and take my noise canceling headphones. Because obviously I’m using them to listen to music instead of toning down the sound because of my severe sensory processing disorder. 🙄 I’ve long since graduated from schooling but I still to this day, get very nervous and protective of my headphones whenever someone dares reach towards them.

[@stiofanmacamhalghaidhau765]

same. fwiw yes a mobility aid - I can't use a bus or train without them for example. it is invasive to touch or take. essentially any devices that enable you to function, regulate or move are a part of your person. I would like to say asking someone if they would feel as comfortable taking glasses off a person's face is a useful way to put it in perspective but I've had that done also. without glasses I'm functionally blind. somehow it doesn't occur to some people that glasses (or headphones, or an AAC device or mobility aids) exist for some actual reason, or that they are deeply personal, that touching or taking them is invasive, an intimate act. Maybe the example of taking someone's shoes would work as an analogy? sadly for some eejits, probably not. :-/

[@katfoster845]

This is why I refuse to leave my wheelchair unsupervised in public. I don't care how inconvenient it is, I don't want someone to mess with it. My chair cost a lot of money and if I lose it, I'm screwed.

[@tazBeaWheelz]

Yes I absolutely agree, only you know how needed and important it is to have your aids, I myself am a wheelchair 24/7 user and have had a few near happenings in hospital and it’s scary as hell, if you don’t have them with you, at all times. I do have a itag on my wheelchair hidden underneath it, but as their worth is more than the money to us, it’s still scary to know that, your either on the list of idiots in the hospitals, or thieves who know the worth of the wheelchair, or the wheels you have on them. But glad you had the strength to try and keep them with you. 😎🤘♥️

[@SailorYuki]

This is why I don't take my power wheelchair everywhere. It's a hazzle but sometimes I have no choise. I can't trust that it won't be messed with. And with power wheelchairs are frequently stolen, so it's just safer to leave it at home and walk. Even if that means pain, dizzyness and fatigue for days.

[@SnowySpiritRuby]

I asked my mom on Friday - after she complained very bitterly again about bringing my chair with us - why she's so opposed to us bringing it, and she said that she usually complains because she thinks that I shouldn't need it in those instances, citing a situation where I've never needed it as proof that I didn't need it Friday. I technically have a spinal cord injury, and that is THE reason I have my chair - she just can't seem to get it through her head that different situations are different situations, and that just because she thinks I shouldn't need it has absolutely no bearing on whether or not I actually do.

[@AliceSylph]

My main auxiliary aid is my assistance dog, she's not for mobility but medical alert and response. It is always a worry because usually I'm not conscious when I'm in an ambulance (i have seizures) so can't advocate for myself or my assistance dog. Luckily due to where I live, it's pretty well known she's a well trained assistance dog and is able to come into ambulances and hospital and actually make their lives easier too as I don't need to be under constant supervision in case of another seizure as she'll let them know, and can tell them if it's getting bad again. The biggest issue I usually have is with my walking sticks. I also have eds so after a bad set of seizures I usually have dislocated a few joints, commonly my knees and hips, so can't walk afterwards. I have a fold up walking stick I keep attached to my pre-packed hospital bag as a back up, but really I need my double forearm resting walking sticks to get around. They never take them, even though it's on my sign to do so, and I'm unable to insist because seizures. I assume they think they'll just provide one in the hospital, but they dont, and how am I supposed to get home?

[@disableddramaqueen9602]

I don’t know if this is just a thing in the UK but in the US if you go to a Broadway show, they make sure to put the wheelchair in a spot where you can visually see it the whole time so intermission if you choose to transfer you can actually tell them hey my chairs, the red one over there and they’ll bring it to you immediately They never put it in a spot where you can’t see it and if they do, it’s locked up in the back room. And I’ve actually had them ask me where I prefer my wheelchair to be stored so also I’m pretty sure if you ask an usher to make sure that it’s attended at all times they would do it for you. They’re actually very accommodating here on Broadway. Also something that they do differently in the US as they have a designated bathroom that only Wheelchair users can use, and all you have to do is get the ushers attention and bring the key and you can go in there yourself In the UK, they did take my chair away from me and I didn’t know where it was so might just be a difference in policy, but it’s definitely worth speaking up if you feel like your chairs, not being watched

[@reachandler3655]

I'm in Bristol, UK. Ambulances won't take my powerchair or small folding wheelchair. The last time I used an ambulance (allergic reaction) I hadto phone my friend who left work early to detour to mine, pick up the folding wheelchair, then come to collect me to take me home. I recently had an MRI appt. I use hospital transport, but they've changed the rules and will no longer take my chair. This meant I hadto use the hospital's attendant chairs and rely on strangers to push me around. Not only is it humiliating to haveto ask for help reaching the toilet, but I also have PTSD, both hospitals and being pushed by strangers me are triggers. I was only at the hospital for less than 3 hours, but it took a week to recover to the point I could leave my home again.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

im so sorry to hear that ,thank you for sharing ❤

[@reachandler3655]

@Wheelswheelchairgirl They said they couldn't take my powerchair because there's no anchor points, and they couldn't take the small folding chair because it's not crash tested. I can't afford to replace either. I did think of going motability route, but I don't trust DWP to not f* about and give me 0 points (again!), which would mean I'd haveto return the chair and be left housebound.

[@racheloram]

I feel so lucky with my experience in hospital with my walker and with crutches/walking sticks. Everytime the staff have been great about accommodating me and making sure that not only were my possessions - including mobility aids - were with me at all times. To the extent that some staff have gone out of their way to help me with them (e.g. carrying/moving them, putting them in the bed with me for transportation so I knew where they were. I do have 2 very good hospitals that I frequent, but I can tell the increasing cuts to the Ñhș budget are taking their toll on things like this. No one has the time and energy to help you if you're if higher needs, and for 99.9% of the time.

[@TheMazinoz]

My rollator folds up, cane is small. Wheelchairs are often bulky.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

thank you for sharing its nice to hear a positive experience 🙂

[@DrJazzSax]

Custom wheelchairs are incredibly expensive often many many thousands of pounds and do get stolen. I would suggest some kind of identification makings on the inside of the seat declaring it being a private wheelchair and who it belongs to contact number definitely a lock and small chain but also you may want to put an air tag concealed in the chair.

[@bethangibby4857]

I have had my chair broken in hospital because it was manhandled by staff So when in a different hospital rule number one don’t touch my chair it wasn’t broken at second hospital

[@DrJazzSax]

I would like to give a shout out and big thank you to the railway support staff in transport for London TFL. On the hole they're absolutely brilliant even getting on trains with me travelling to the destination station and then getting off to make sure that I've got a ramp if nobody is at the station, as a disabled wheelchair musician I've travelled all over Europe and I can honestly say the staff at TFL helping disabled people in London are truly second to none.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

thank you for sharing that great news , its great to hear🙂

[@KotaMakes]

My late husband used a skateboard as a mobility aid in our home and hotels even hospitals. This was in addition with crutches, wheelchair and false legs.

[@ElvenQueen854]

Thanks for mentioning guide dogs. I’ve never had my guide dog taken from me completely, but I have had my dog grabbed as they literally pulled us across a large intersection against the red light. Very scary and maddening.

[@clairerusz2639]

I’ve got an AirTag hidden on my wheelchair (as suggested by someone on this page) and it gave me peace of mind when we flew earlier this year. I’m currently awaiting a couple of day stay surgeries and it never crossed my mind that my wheelchair won’t be able to stay by my bed. Having the AirTag may come in useful again in the hospital but I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on my chair.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

im thinking of getting an air tag for my upcoming travels ,also make sure you have a luggage label on your chair for the hospital , thx for sharing🙂

[@caitlynskiff2001]

I work as an usher at an arena and I have had times when people in wheelchairs have tickets for seats and not in the ADA seating. So the person with them helps them down the stairs and I put the wheelchair out of the way of other people. I always tell the person that if they need the chair just tell me and I will get it. We can't have thing in the aisleways because it's a fire hazard. The aisleways must be clear. But I always make sure to tell the person where I am moving it too and that I will get it for them when they need it.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

i have also had great experiences like this , that extra little bit of care and communication can make a world of difference ,thank you for sharing this with us 🙂

[@RainbowPawPrint]

It’s nice of you that you try to do that. And I understand this is not your personal policy but an overall thing. But I would not accept that my wheelchair or crutches were taken away from me. I’m sometimes able to sit in a regular seat, but I must have my wheelchair next to me. It is not a fire hazard. If necessary I can transfer back into it in two seconds or less, and if there’s need for evacuation, then I need to evacuate just like everyone else. And if a wheelchair is considered a fire hazard, then the problem is not the wheelchair itself but the building design and the lack of space. It’s nice that you offer to bring the chair back when needed, but it’s not always possible to get staff’s attention during a show/movie/event, so they may not notice when the chair is needed. And especially during an evacuation, I will not take the risk that a stranger might forget to return my chair to me. Plus, custom-made mobility aids are very expensive and hard to replace. It can take several months or more to order and custom-adapt it to your specific needs. If someone were to steal or damage my mobility aids, it would be a disaster and put my whole life on hold indefinitely, and in my particular case it also causes me a lot of physical pain to be without them.

[@aprildawnsunshine4326]

I barely go to sit down restaurants anymore because so often they have taken away my mobility aides, especially my rollator, and put them where I can't get them with the excuse that there isn't room. The last time it happened I ended up peeing my pants because my friend had gone to pay the bill and I didn't even know where they'd put it. They actually tried to get me to pay extra for the cleanup! It was so shaming and no one stood up for me. Worst of all, there was room in the booth to have it beside me folded up and they refused to let me do that! Of course guess where they'd put it, next to the freaking bathroom on the other side of the building!

[@ixykix]

The hospital issue has happened several times for me. Mainly visitors trying to take my chair because 'someone else needed it'. Once they approached my chair they did usually see the neon yellow sign I attached to the handles. Although some did not! I have looked for something like Air Tags for ages and couldn't find anything so that's really good info thanks! I use a powerchair almost exclusively now and it has a code lock, so it's impossible for anyone to move it or worse, take it, when it is locked. I have a strip of big comedy rubber spikes for the back of mine 😆 they actually look pretty convincing from a distance 😉. My chair is pretty well customised and that's probably the biggest security feature! I have regular treatment every 6/7 weeks in a really small day-case unit, where there really isn't any spare space at the bedside. Loads of equipment and machines crammed into a space which isn't adequate. The staff are amazing there and get it really right, but saying that, the hospital needs to sort it out so that wheelchair users can keep their chairs next to them during daycase infusions, dialysis and plasma exchanges.

[@Geeky_Zebra]

I have this issue with family members frequently moving my mobility aids "out the way". When I point out i cant reach my aid I get a dismissive "thats okay I can get it for you when you want it" I cant seem to get them to understand how vulnerable and anxious not being able to reach my aids independently makes me feel. When I've tried to explain in the past my mother told me not to "become an awkward disabled person"

[@Spi314]

That's so infuriating! I'm sorry that they keep doing that to you!

[@Roadent1241]

Ew. THEY need to get out of the way. They're being the awkward person. They can choose it. You can't.

[@mandragore4006]

Hello French here! i"m a "new" user wheelchair ( even I have a serious handicap from birth ), I use to watch your Chanel since a while, to learn and to be more familiar with a wheelchair, your videos are very informative thank you...I will be very devastated if someone stole "my precious"

[@MaryButton-gg7tq]

Thank you for posting this. This is very timely for me. British Airways broke my wheelchair on 1st April and still haven't compensated me. I had to go to a theatre with my walking stick instead and the ushers made my friend put it out of the way. It was not a fire or trip hazard in this instance (whereas people putting bags and coats on the floor in front of their seats is). The Civil Aviation Authority has guidance on the airline issue (Europe and UK). I have complained to the theatre, citing discrimination (they also joked about my stick) under the Equality Act and have notified my local fire service about their removal of my mobility aid without any plans for my safe evacuation (they enforce fire safety).

[@user-yc4fz7vv6u]

How on earth is a walking stick more of a fire hazard than a human who is blocking the row because they can't walk without it?

[@MaryButton-gg7tq]

@@user-yc4fz7vv6u you make a very good point! They said their policy was for "the health and safety of all customers", but it's not, it prioritises the health and safety of ambulant customers, putting mobility impaired customers second. They said it was the duty of my friend to retrieve my stick in the event of a fire, but did not tell her that, so if a fire had happened, I would have been waiting for the staff to come and help me.

[@VicandWes]

I once had to go to the ICU to visit my Grandma(I was saying goodbye) and I had to leave my mobility service dog with my Mom before I could go see my Grandma upstairs. The man at the reception desk did call upstairs to the ICU and ask if I could come up with my service dog and he even said this is a legit service dog It’s not an emotional support animal. I understand why I wasn’t allowed especially because I wasn’t a patient myself, but I’m honestly just so glad that my parents were with me and that one of them could stay with my service dog because if I was alone, I don’t know what I would do.

[@kerrysmiles]

Yup. I got moved across the state to a new hospital and my chair was left behind in the last hospital. It was up to me to financially afford somebody to pick it up and bring it all the way across the state.

[@MakenzieMGomez]

Thank you for sharing! I’m traveling with my wheelchair for the first time next month and I feel much more empowered knowing some of these tips

[@SnowySpiritRuby]

November '20, I went to my local hospital for an MRI, and the tech and I got halfway to the room we were going to, then he told me to wait and that he would go look for the hospital chair that belonged to the department we were headed to. Thankfully, he couldn't find it, because I was pretty sure he was going to try to make me leave my chair (custom manual, so not super heavy) behind and use the hospital one instead, which would have been extremely painful - there's a reason I have a custom chair, thank you very much!! It was an MRI, so I used my chair to get to the table, then the tech took it back into the control room for during the scan, then he brought it back out to me afterwards. Then last year, I was allowed to bring my chair all the way to the MRI changing room, but the tech (someone different than the last time) told me I had to walk from the changing room to the MRI table and back afterwards "because the chair is metal, so it can't stay in the room during the scan" (I can walk unassisted that far, so it wasn't a big deal to me, but I was also thinking of people who can't walk that far, or at all) - I replied with something like, "Obviously it can't stay during, but the patient can use it to get up to the table and transfer, then you can take the chair out for the scan itself, and bring it back to them once the scan is done." She didn't bring me my chair afterwards. Don't know if she really got what I meant or not, but I haven't needed to go back since then, so haven't asked her. Thankfully, that's the only time so far that I've been "separated from my mobility aid", other than flying (obviously). I don't have anyone who can bring me my chair from home, though, so if I did end up having to take an ambulance ride, if they didn't take my chair, I wouldn't have a way to get to the bathroom, because, when I'm doing that poorly, I can't stand without falling and my pain levels won't tolerate anything except a bed and my custom chair, so hospital chairs are completely out, regardless of who's wheeling it (not to mention I can't even wheel my custom chair in that state, let alone a big heavy standard manual). Actually, come to think of it, there have been a few times when traveling cross country that, even though it was easy to get at, my mom refused to get my SmartDrive out of the car, and refused to push me in lieu of it, forcing me to wheel myself the whole time, and Sam's Club isn't small! There have been plenty of other times that she complains bitterly when she asks if we need to take my chair and I say yes, because it means we have to take the minivan instead of the little Prius. And there was one time at the eye doctor where they made me leave my chair in the lobby and walk to the room in the back, despite there being more than enough space in both back rooms for my chair - I don't care that the receptionist lives next door to the ranch where I work and therefore sees me on my feet when I'm working: if I come in using my chair, don't make me get out of it unless absolutely necessary! My chair is black and very blue (bright blue frame, pushrim covers, and spoke skins, black everywhere else), so it would be pretty hard to mistake mine for a hospital one, plus I've got luggage forks and a cupholder on the front, and a bag with a toolkit, as well as a couple shiny double ended snaps, attached to the solid back.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

than you for sharing❤

[@KotaMakes]

I have been left on the train so many times at York station that I refuse to travel there via train alone unless I have no choice. The number of times I have been assisted off the train by a member of the public because the booked passenger assistance has failed to turn up. I have been moved at the museum by another member of the public because he couldn't see the display that I was looking at. I was in his way so he decided to move me he disengaged the one brake I had on. This was at a major London museum at a very large international exhibition in Jan 2019. It is bad enough that I am looking at a sea of bums and backpacks whenever I go out to a crowded space and this exhibition was packed. This exhibition was one of the first where they tried to have wheelchair-friendly and other disabilities-catered displays that I ever experienced in person. And he moved me from the disabled space so he could see instead of waiting for the non-disabled area to clear. I almost slapped him with fright of being moved I was that upset. I made a complaint to museum security and wanted to take it to the police as I viewed it as physical assault. Was advised that I could not make a complaint to the police for assault because I wasn't injured but what about my mental health? If I had slapped him it would have me being done for assault as it is not seen as self-defence under the UK laws according to museum security. I haven't followed up due to COVID-19 but I was fired up at the time to find out where I “stand” with the UK law.

[@sarahroberts5596]

I have lost count of the times the ambulance service have refused to take my wheelchair and I have been left on a hospital trolley (the longest being 48 hours) when I have pressure problems and am meant to either be on my cushion in my wheelchair or an air mattress, hospitals don't seem to be bothered about leaving me to potentially get a pressure sore. Once I was allowed to take my wheelchair in the ambulance and that was only because I was alone in the middle of the road after having a seizure and falling out of my chair and I was told (because I can't remember any of the incident) that it was police who told them to take it because they couldn't get a van to bring it to the hospital for me and obviously couldn't leave an officer there to guard it for me.

[@jankarel6454]

This is such a good topic to cover, because it's not something that you can talk about with people who have no experience with or understanding of the problem. It's so good to get ideas from each other on things like this.

[@MicheMoffatt]

Just watching this as I had sepsis back in January, and pneumonia as well as kidney infection and the ambulance didn’t want to take my wheelchair. I refused to go if I wasn’t allowed my chair, and the paramedics were lovely and said I needed hospital so they brought my chair x I was in bed for a while and unable to get up because I was so sick, but definitely was so glad I had my chair there x

[@MissEmJayC]

I've not had issues when taking my wheelchair in ambulances. I was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia only a week ago & it wasn't a problem taking my chair in the ambulance

[@thecrazytrainspotter]

Gem , I really love your KZbin channel keep up with good work ❤❤❤

[@BeeMcDee]

I am a wheelchair user and I live in Australia. I have been trying to advocate for better mobility aid policy to be standard across all ambulance services since 2015. Granted, when I started advocating for it I thought it SURELY must be a simple issue and it turned out to be extremely complex. But what made it even harder was the ‘can’t do’ attitude of so many people in the services themselves. Meanwhile, every wheelchair user I know has been denied their wheelchair at least once (including me), and some don’t have family that can easily bring their chair to them. Which for some people, can lead to extra complications if they’re stuck in bed. Just to name one issue. I understand that ambulance services are emergency responders and their first priority is to save lives, but I can’t believe we’re in 2024 and no one has decided that it’s a big enough issue to at least try and improve. I reached a point of burnout a couple of years ago and couldn’t do it any more, because the services would pay lip service to it and then just drop it as soon as I stopped pushing. It’s disgusting, the level of apathy that the rest of the world has about it.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

disability activism is exhausting, i can understand its like going around in circles and never getting anywhere sometimes , thank you for sharing ❤

[@CarolineGoral]

A while back, I broke the left femur. While I was at the hospital after the surgery to repaired it, I woke up to not having my chair by the bed! It was moved to the bathroom by the nurse!! So I had to wait an hour for someone to come and help me. The anxiety got to me because I needed to use the bathroom and I could not go. Needless to say my husband came in that day so upset and demanded I was released from the hospital since they were careless with my needs. I recovered at home and did out patient therapy.

[@t4N9410oR]

08:18 ID info on wheelchair. If you have a personal ordinary manual folding wheelchair, that looks like a hospital issue one, then hospital staff might confuse your private personal wheelchair, for a hospital one, and take it from you mistakenly thinking that your wheelchair is a hospital one, available for them for use for any patient in the ward. 09:25 Moving mobility aids out of the way. This happened to me when I was in hospital in early 2014. I'd been given the use of a hospital issued rollator walker. However, when I was put in a chair beside my bed, the walker was always moved out of the way to the side of the bed, opposite to that of the chair I'd been put in, to have it out of the way so orderlies could get me in or out of the chair. Sitting in the chair on the right of the bed, walker was on the left side of the bed, and vice versa. So frustratingly useless. 11:00 The vision impaired, rear bus door boarding video clip. This one is a serious trip hazard, as a vision impaired person would have difficulty in judging the step up height to board the bus. A ramp to enter the bus should have been supplied for safe entrance onto the bus. Also, anyone who has trouble stepping up that high would not be able to board the bus at that door. 11:40 Australian trains. I'm wondering what train this happened on. Here in Brisbane, Queensland, on the suburban trains, there are 8 accessible seats per carriage. The aisle width is wide enough for a wheelchair or walker to easily safely access the entire length of the carriage. On the Queensland long distance trains, due to the vastly more limited number of accessible seats, these have to be booked in advance, so there's not more disabled people than there are accessible seats, on a train. But on these trains, the aisle width is _NOT_ wheelchair or walker accessible. 15:37 Mobility aids taken away at events. Queensland Performing Arts Complex, Playhouse Theatre. Attending a performance of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap, last year, I was required to park my rollator walker in a mobility aids corral outside the actual theatre. There were a number of walkers and wheelchairs already parked in the corral. The corral is not a secured access area such as a cloak room, and there was nothing to secure a mobility aid to, to prevent the risk of theft while a patron was in the theatre. 20:43 Another for travelling or in hospital, which was mentioned by the poster you quoted at the 08:18 point in this video, ID tags on your mobility aids, in a clearly visible location. Thanks very much for another great video, Gem :)

[@Wheelsnoheels]

thank you for your comments 🙂

[@malcolmc3997]

My understanding is that if someone removes a mobiity aid from some else they are, in effect, restraining them - unless that is both fair and resonable in the situation an offence is committed, just saying. 😃

[@no-ah3185]

Not a wheelchair story but my hearing aids. I was inpatient (not planned) and they refused to let me get my hearing aid charger. After a few days they finally allowed me to collect it but then didn’t let me charge it in my room claiming health and safety - the cord is 10cm!!

[@Layla462]

The worst time I couldn't take my wheelchair with me was when I got arrested by the police and had to go to custody. My wheelchair couldn't fit in the back of the van, so it was either left in the place that I got arrested or it was taken to the police station by a police officer. Depending on what happened in custody, depended on how I go my chair back. If I was released from custody, transport would be organised for me to be reunited with my chair. If I was sent to court and then locked up, the shop that maintains my chair has to be contacted to collect it from the "Safe" place and returned to them for safe keeping until my released from prison. I live in the UK and this has happened to me a number of times and I found it very stressful. Do note that my behaviour has improved and I haven't been in trouble with the police for around 18 months now.

[@rhyssaunders9863]

One of the times I was flying, I had a connecting flight that I had to catch in Germany before then flying to the US, and I use a rollator walker, as I can be very independent with it and don't need a wheelchair, but without it I can only walk a few feet then need to sit for a while, so getting around an airport, as they're often huge, I need either the wheelchair assistance or a walker. I prefer to use the walker, as then while waiting on layovers I can independently go to the restroom, get food, etc. Where if I just book wheelchair assistance and treat the walker as checked luggage, they often wheel me to a gate then just leave me in a stationary seat for the whole layover, as though leaving me stuck somewhere for a 6 hour layover is ok. So, I booked my walker as valet check in, the one where they let me take it to the plane door, it gets a valet tag, and they bring it to me at the plane door again as soon as I get off. Only this time, I get off in Germany and there's no walker. I stand there for a couple minutes, waiting for the walker to show up, and nothing, so I sit on the floor because I can't stand still for very long either. One of the people from the plane asks what I need and I explain that my walker was valet checked and I am waiting on it, and they just tell me that it will probably be at the end of the bridge and I can't wait there. So I struggle down the bridge with using my partner's arms as support (which does not work well and is a lot of work on his part) and get to the end and there's no walkers, wheelchairs, anything. There was a guard there so we explain the situation and I'm on the verge of tears at this point, and he only seems to sort of understand, maybe the language barrier playing a part. Long story short, I managed to get to a seat at the gate and sat there crying, tired, in pain, and panicky because I feel completely helpless to get around, while my partner finds out that they put my walker into the checked luggage, something they explicitly promised me would not happen, and that now I have to wait for wheelchair service to show up. On top of that, they kept calling me my partner's mother, even though we're the same age, which I can only guess was to do with the weird assumption people have that only older people can need mobility aids.

[@JustMe-vf3ge]

I had a clinic take my chair, and supposedly leave it just out side the door, When i left they put me in a different chair and told me to come back for my chair later. When i went back for it, they told me I wasn't their to pick up or drop off a person so I had to walk in,( not possible), and this after calling to tell me they found my chair and to drive up and get it. I drove into the parking lot and called them, then drove up again. The person bringing it out was the same one who told me I had to walk up the first time, and just kind of rammed in in breaking the side panel on it. It was a scary and angry experience.

[@HighTen_Melanie]

Lovely Gem! 💎 Great video as always. Yes this has happened a few times. Long story short yes to manual chair no to heavy powerchair. Fair enough as no room in Ambulance. Also joyriding by anyone other than myself of my chair at anytime is allowed especially in hospital.. On a serious note I hate being parted from my chair unless it’s an absolute emergency.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

thank you for sharing 🙂

[@activatingchangewithsteph1259]

I was sat outside at a canalside bar once in my early twenties (it was light so can’t have been too late on) and this drunk guy and his two mates decided to take my crutches which were tucked under the table and chuck them in the canal ….. I had no way of getting back to where my travel home was as the friend I was with was only able to help me a little bit. I did kick off a little bit at these men who then said I was too young to need the ‘sticks ‘ when I pointed out I couldn’t walk without them they offered to help me walk…. lol they were too drunk to walk themselves, they then offered to jump in the canal…. This is when other ppl stepped in and helped me and my friend tell these guys to just disappear and helped me walk to the car park. Even now ten or so years later I am still traumatised by this particular incident even tho I’ve had other issues since

[@dees3179]

Is there such a thing as a remotely triggered audible alarm that can be fixed to the chair in an inconspicuous place and triggered from the owner’s phone? Preferably that makes a screaming sound. Or plays a recording saying‘I’ve been stolen, take me back to my owner immediately’ in a really obnoxious voice. At least it would embarrass the thief for a little while. You can get flood detectors that text your smart phones when they get wet etc. maybe someone enterprising could do something with a proximity sensor in reverse.

[@stiofanmacamhalghaidhau765]

expensive motorbikes often have a proximity sensor with a recorded 'step away' message triggered VERY loudly. totally doable also in the version you suggest

[@Wheelsnoheels]

sounds like an idea 👍thanks for sharing

[@vickimainard6048]

I would have thought keeping people with disabilities and their mobility aids together was just common sense. After this video I am now convinced that common sense really isn't that common. I just found your channel and look forward to watching more of your video soon. I did subscribe.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

thakyou for commenting and subscribing , welcome to the fam🙂❤

[@ElectricDreamsAdventure]

I get that people want to take their aids but there is generally not any place to strap them in for safety. Having a metal chair hit you at 30 miles an hour is going to cause some major damage. Some power chairs weight up to 180/200kg. That’s the equivalent of 3 good sized men that continues travelling as an ambulance brakes. I do get there separation anxiety as I’m in a powerchair and use crutches but also coming from a nursing background I see both sides of the argument of having aids with you in any location. Xxx

[@stiofanmacamhalghaidhau765]

ok here's the question - WHY in 2024 do ambulances not have the facility to transport a chair? it's not as if they are some newly invented device. the problem isn't how big or heavy they are, it's that nobody can be arsed to accommodate them

[@ElectricDreamsAdventure]

@@stiofanmacamhalghaidhau765 I totally agree with you but whilst there isn’t any safe tie down or fixture points, it’s a problem. It’s a problem that shouldn’t be but it is.

[@johnbethea4505]

Gem, you help us out so much, thank you. Your family is so great to you.

[@antonyjharper31]

I was travelling through Birmingham and was taken ill at digbeth bus station I was taken to hospital and had to leave my chair at the station! Hat to then travel from Kidderminster to retrieve it on just crutches!

[@fairyhollowcreationsmarsde2777]

I use a stick for distance walking as my hip is not great when I walk for a long time it gives way and I have found it embarrassing to fall in front of other people. When I was going to physio the physio I was seeing wanted me not to use the stick as it will have an impact on my body as I age. I want to be mobile now, I do volunteer work and was self employed for 10 years and for 5 of that I needed to walk from the bus to my studio. She said that perhaps I just needed to adjust my expectations of what I can do, I went home and wanted to cry. I’ve had folk say to me you don’t really need that stick you look like your walking fine as I explained to one man, I might be walking ok now but as the day wears I won’t be able to get home without my stick, another one I explained that my hip gives way and I fall so I need my stick. Both times I felt awful and very anxious after. It’s not a fun accessory it’s something that improves my quality of life. I don’t want to be stuck at home because I can’t get to work or stop my charity work because I can’t get there.

[@heatherlewis3713]

I'm in a wheelchair & my chair is part of me. I'm unable to stand or walk at all, so get rather anxious when someone takes it away or moves it. You get seperation anxiety. If I'm flying, I always stay in my chair until the door of the plane, or until the last minute. When I go to hospital they always put a ID band on it. The same sort of band put on a patients wrist or ankle. In hospitals, some times chairs need to be moved to do stuff. But they should always put it back where you want. The last thing you need when your in hospital is to be worrying about where your wheelchair is or not being able to get at it. Any hospital staff that takes someones wheelchair away & doesn't bring it, shouldn't be working there. I was studying to be a Nurse when I became unwell. This was ages ago. I took some time off, but ended up in a wheelchair before I could finish my course. Since 2008 I've been trying to finish my Nursing Course, but they said because of my wheelchair I wouldn't be able to complete the course work. Funny thing is, I would be on a restricted registration. Which basically means you can only do certain things. I think it's wrong to blanket ban someone nust because they are in a wheelchair, especially Nursing. You would think this profession would be accepting. I can do most things, but the good Nurses usually help each other out. The areas that a wheelchair would pose a problem I'm not interested in. I've wanted to be a Nurse since I was a child. Thought of trying to apply again after I get a vertical standing wheelchair. If you can do the work without causing a dangerous situation for the patients or other staff, whats the problem. How well you write an essay has got nothing to do with how you would be as a Nurse. So long as you know the information, nothing else matters.

[@laurenragle5228]

I love the idea of bringing a bike lock to keep things with me. Also gonna add a sign for my rollator, 100%.

[@richardholder8970]

Gem I have been lucky because nobody has ever tried to take my wheelchair from me, but I am worried about my wheelchair being damaged or ending up in another state when I’m going to be in Florida no wheelchair no mobility no holiday!👨🏻‍🦽✈️🇺🇸☀️❤️

[@SnowySpiritRuby]

First and foremost, there should be a baggage tag for your chair, when you check in at either the front desk or the gate; or do not all airlines do that for wheelchairs/strollers/car seats/other gate-checked items? If they don't, they ought to. This is the reason that, when I fly, I book a window seat where I can clearly see the cargo ramp (and if there is more than one cargo door, I put a label on my chair telling them, in no uncertain terms, which door to load/unload it through - started doing that after I sat near one cargo door but they loaded it through the other, completely out of my sight), which allows me to video them loading and unloading my chair - if I don't see it go in, it's not on the plane, and if I don't see it come out, I don't get off the plane until it gets to the plane door, no matter how hard the flight attendant is trying to kick me off (that only happened once, and she shut up the second walked up to the front (if I couldn't walk, I would have just stayed in my seat, refusing to get in the aisle chair - eventually, one of the pilots would have come back to find out what was going on, and if not, I would have yelled up to them for one of them to come back to my row (my theatre training allows me to project my voice loud enough to be heard over airplane engines)) and I told the pilots, in front of the flight attendant, that I wasn't allowed to get off until my chair got to the plane door (I had calmly told her that at least 3 times already) - the higher ranking pilot, who is responsible for the passengers until they are all off the plane, sent the lower ranking pilot up the jetbridge to find and bring my chair down, and it was at the door less than a minute later (I had seen it come off the plane, but it hadn't gotten to the plane door yet when that all transpired); that's the only time I had a flight attendant try to kick me off - usually, if my chair is taking longer to get to the door, they let me know that I can just sit tight and that they'll let me know when it gets there. United, which is what I always fly, has an option to 3-D tour the inside the the aircraft to a certain extent, which, combined with pictures of the outside of the aircraft, allows me to figure out which seats are where in relation to the cargo doors for each aircraft model.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

that is always in the back of your mind when flying, that happened to me a while back when travelling to Australia from the UK we changed planes in Singapore but my wheelchair never got transferred so i was left for a day without my chair and using the airport one, it was so worrying but I've never had trouble like that since, that was in 2010

[@ivansmith654]

I did just as you said I look over many comments I thumbed up all I did read including one you left! I did have many people try a steal my key off of my Electric Mobility Scooter, so today I have my key on a long dog lash that wrapped around me and hooked on to one end as the other end has is hook to the key! the dog lash has two hook and a few rings most are about one meter long (in feet that is about 3 feet long)! This help you from losing your key if it falls out which cab happen! Great channel great video hello to you dog! When someone wants my Electric Mobility Scooter for a joy ride I ask for 10,000 Euros and their can ride it all day long it not sorry I can help you!

[@jamienevill1768]

My walking stick was relocated to the office at my workplace where I work part-time as a cleaner whilst I was cleaning the floor of the store. It's usually located near the cleaning cupboard with my personal stuff as it's covered on the CCTV system. I wasn't best pleased and let the store manager know that they shouldn't be moving it without my permission.

[@catlover988]

I’m flying with a wheelchair for the first time next week. How do you attach a tile tag or equivalent to your wheelchair and make sure that it won’t fall off? Also, I am ambulatory and would be able to leave my wheelchair at bag drop and then use the special assistance at the airport. Is that a good idea or should I use my wheelchair until the gate? I am a very new wheelchair user, have only used one twice at museums.

[@SnowySpiritRuby]

As a fellow ambie wheelie who has been flying with my own chair for almost 6 years, I very, very highly recommend using your own chair all the way until the gate - far less chance of it getting damaged, and you have the benefit of being able to use your own chair in the airport. Don't know which country(ies) you're flying to/from/within, but look up the airline(s) you'll be flying, and there should be info on booking wheelchair assistance at the airport when using your own chair (each airline has its own process) - I've always flown with my own chair, and for the first 2 years (until I got my current chair and SmartDrive), I had to have someone push me through the airport because I couldn't wheel myself that far. If your chair has special handling instructions (e.g. keeping upright at all times, certain hand holds for lifting, etc.), make sure to attach easy-to-read directions so that the baggage handlers will see them. If you decide to book assistance, 1) allow extra time to confirm at the check-in desk when you get to the airport that the assistance request actually made it onto your reservation (sometimes it doesn't, even if it looks like it did when you look it up yourself), and 2) if you'll need assistance at the next airport, when you board, ask the flight attendant to call ahead to let them know that you need someone to meet you at the gate when you land. A couple things to note when booking wheelchair assistance: generally (at least in my experience in the U.S.), they will get you from point A to point B - with any restroom stops, waterbottle fill ups, etc., that are needed (stopping to get food/coffee/etc. may or may not be included in that, I don't know) - but once you're at point B, you're on your own, so make sure you take that into account. When you get to the gate, check in with the gate agent. He/she should ask whether or not you need and aisle chair; might also ask whether you plan to preboard - if he/she doesn't, make sure you say whether or not you want to (personally, I always preboard, but we aren't required to, at least in the U.S.). There might also still be a tag that needs to go on your chair (a gate-check tag, basically, if you didn't already get one when you checked in at the airline desk) before you board. Make sure to also take pictures of your chair before you board (I do front, back, each side, and also the top because my backrest folds down and locks and that's where I attach the handling instructions), so that, if something happens and it gets damaged, you have proof. Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions - I'm more than happy to share.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

@@SnowySpiritRuby thank you for giving such great advise , thats why i love this community and doing my channel🙂❤

[@isabelleblanchet3694]

I do not require mobility aid (at least my knees are not yes completely useless yet but I have to be careful with them) but I would consider having identification etched, engraved or riveted to it if I needed it. Not sure if this service exist everywhere but here police stations can engrave an ID number on bicycle or other property you want as protection against theft and, to help identify the owner.

[@jno5]

Yes it’s happened to me, the last time I had to be taken to hospital in an ambulance they refused to take my wheelchair (I’m a permanent manual wheelchair user), I’d never had this issue before, their excuse was there wasn’t room, this was about 8 / 10yrs ago. They flat out refused and my sister had to bring it in, I now refuse to go into hospital. Also hospital moving your wheelchair from your bedside, I’ve had that so many times and when pointed out it was my chair, I’d paid for myself and it’s my property…..each time they say I thought it was a hospital chair…….it looks nothing like a hospital chair.

[@Spi314]

I hadn't thought about how glasses are a form of mobility aid before, but you are so right! We tend to forget about them bc they are so ubiquitous and usually pretty accessible to acquire, but if I didn't have access to my glasses for some reason, I would feel pretty trapped. I'm not that comfortable walking down the street without them and I would have extreme difficulty using the computer and I certainly would not be able to drive. It is literally illegal for people who need corrective lenses to drive without them! Bc we can't see well enough to drive safely. It literally makes us more mobile when we have them. We forget that poor vision that can be corrected with glasses or contacts is technically a disability bc having those corrective lenses completely fixes the problem/erases the effect it has on our day-to-day life, as well as the fact that MOST people need glasses or contacts (at least most that I know.) I know it doesn't classify as a disability bc those lenses do completely negate its effect on our lives, but if we didn't have the technology to make good glasses and contacts, that wouldn't be true. I think this is a great example that people without other disabilities can look to to imagine how it feels for those of us that do have disabilities, and how it feels if the things we need to cope and make our lives and autonomy as normal as possible were taken away from us. I have some invisible disabilities but they are mostly fairly recent, or at least the degree of their severity feeling disabiling is pretty recent, so watching disability content has really helped me to be less ashamed. Besides glasses haha, I don't have mobility aids per se (although I have seriously considered using the sit down carts at the grocery store on more than one occasion -- luckily I'm getting a little stronger, so my joints are less wobbly and less painful/exhausting when I walk now lol), but I do have a lot of medications and some aqua PT that have been helping me to heal/function better. If I can't get my meds when I need them, my functionality goes back down, and doesn't come back right away once I get my meds, and it can be discouraging.

[@Spi314]

Also, one of my younger siblings does have mobility aids (forearm crutches, if I remember correctly) and I'm so glad they got them! They were struggling and not sure if they needed them ENOUGH to get them and finally realized, people who don't need mobility aids aren't jealous of people who have them and wishing they had them too. That helped them realize that even if they don't need them all the time, if it helps them function without pain and walk around a little longer, then the crutches are helpful, and therefore needed and there's no shame in using a tool that gives you a little more freedom back in your life. I'm proud of my sibling for getting the crutches.

[@thebiglimpet]

Airtags on wheelchairs are great. We have one in the gf powerchair, it lets me find her when patient transport have lost her. I can look up where her wheelchair is and tell them they are looking in the wrong department... There is the benefit that if she hasn't arrived back home at a reasonable time I can check to see if she is on the way home or stuck. Because of her complexities using a mobile phone away from her home environment is hard / to impossible, so airtags are a nice backup. The funny thing is when I drop her at the hospital for out patient stuff and I go shopping, I get a message that I have left the gf behind and was last seen at the hospital. Have you considered the usage of voice assistants as a mobility aid? So much can now be done through thins like "She who must not be named", Alexa. I setup one in her room when he goes into respite care.

[@arthurvasey]

Following a stroke some years back, I found that I couldn’t walk far without feeling giddy or going for a burton, so I invested in a mobility scooter - paid for it myself, so Motability can’t claim it back - neither can anyone else - I do all my shopping on it - I’m glad I bought it, as the only bus into town only runs once an hour - comes back the long way round - on this scooter of mine (look up Liberty Vogue - mine is the maroon one, listed as Midnight Red or something - it’s not designed for riding on roads - I can ride on pavements, footpaths and cycle routes - but it gets me there and back - I have two batteries, which I take with me - one will do, if it’s not far! I have even ridden it round the aisles of large supermarkets and some slightly smaller ones without crashing into people - only happened once in Asda - even though I had it in low gear, the floor had been buffed up and nobody told me!

[@katlady5000]

I purchased accessible seating at the theater to see the ballet. In this theater the seat can be removed and a wheelchair can be rolled in (wheelchair accessible seating). The male usher removed the theater chair and I put my wheelchair in the empty spot. While I'm in the spot a different female usher tells me I have to transfer to a regular chair. I let her know that I'm not going to do that. After repeating herself several times. I let her know it's a wheelchair accessible and I can stay in my wheelchair. She then asks my sister if I can transfer to a regular chair. My sister doesn't answer because she is helping my elderly mom to her seat. The usher huffs and walks away I see her talking to male usher that removed the theater chair. He must have explained because she quickly left the area and never bugged me again. The thing that annoyed me the most we her talking to my sister when she didn't get the reply she wanted from me. Guess what my sister could have said I can move to the regular chair and I still wouldn't have done it. I'm never giving up my wheelchair at the theater. If I pay for wheelchair accessible seating then I'm staying in the chair. Plus the usher already removed the chair so what did she expect me to transfer into??? To quote at saying "She Ain’t got the brains God gave a squirrel."

[@bywhacky7395]

get details etched onto aids and have pics on phone to aid prooving yours

[@LPSbeautifulpalsy]

@wheelsnoheels I just got my wheelchair a week ago tomorrow. It’s been too hot to practice on it but I try. I’m an ambulatory user with cerebral palsy that has difficultly with walking long distances and use it for energy conservation so I can do these stuff that’s needed to be done. I have alber e-motion m25 wheels to power assist in my manual chair. I always am leaving my chair with supervision and or in an area I trust I’m deathly scared of having to leave my chair in a habitat for humanity restore if I have to move in my parents house because as of right now my parents don’t believe in me needing a wheelchair at this moment. Tips for a first time ambulatory user?😅

[@jbnapalm]

Not watched all this vid yet. But my two recent admissions to the hospital were the ambulance had to get me from my home. Both sets of paramedics said they couldn't take aids (cruthes or chair). Ironically typing this while in hospital

[@chantelle1654]

The ambulance who tooke to A and E insited I leave my wheelchair and instead get on a stretcher that was easier for them to maneuver. I spent all my time in hospital on a bed, couldnt use the loo and had to explain to every professional that I couldnt walk....

[@ecologist_to_be]

I had to leave my powerchair behind when had an MRI. Surprised I got it back as didn't know at time I should put name on it as wasn't expecting it to be left miles away I figured would be in room near by! Also had to leave my chair because the room I was having tests in was too small for wheelchairs!

[@randomrachel1232]

My landlord appears to think denying me access for 3 months to my rollator and fitting a total of 8 badly maintained- controls zip tied out of range stairlifts to get in and out for 3 months and so I was trapped for 3 months and literally heard the words “can’t you just stay in?” From a housing officer… you just wouldn’t say that to any other person let alone single parent of a child at primary school Now it’s I must apply permission retrospectively to have my mobility scooter I must be able to get in and out safely … however the doorway can’t be widened and twice they’ve denied me moving to a different property I’m supposed to be able to fold it each time I come in or go out… sort of ignores the fact that I use it because of my disability and being a single parent… I can’t live my life… just wait for my landlord to either give me permission or evict me 🙄 They didn’t see any issues with removing an aid and giving 8 unmaintained stairlifts for 3 months, they’d beep all night and other residents would unplug them it was that bad. they told another lady she could not use her medical boot on the stairlift it’s just rediculous I would apparently be accomodated if I had a wheelchair however I don’t need one yet I just need to keep up with parenting as a single parent and use when my pain is so bad there’s no other solution for going out- no surprises that I’ve drastically found it harder getting out and about for the last few years of stress from my landlord who threatened to dispose of it, shouted at me multiple times and expect me to magically become able bodied to do things they ask at short notice Considering using a wheelchair would currently be very expensive (purchasing an electric one as I am not recommended one) and go against the advice for my condition… I’m really unsure why my landlord thinks it’s allowed to try and pressure people into which aids they do or don’t use.

[@HouseKatArmy]

I was at lunch one day at my place of employment. I had just gotten my Permobil F3 the day before, which my insurance company paid $85k for. I was sitting in a chair at the table, having transferred out of my chair for lunch time. My supervisor decided that she wanted to see what it was like to drive my chair around the department and so she hopped in it, and drove it out the door, scraping the armrest in the process and tearing the vinyl on the brand new chair....then went riding around without having any idea what she was doing. Her being my boss I was afraid to tell her to STOP. She came back and said she had tried to go in the bathroom but couldn't do it because the door was so heavy. It was just a really unsettling incident, especially since she actually damaged my brand new chair.

[@nergregga]

That is so incredibly inappropriate! Especially for a boss. What did you do?

[@HouseKatArmy]

@@nergregga nothing at the time, I was afraid to lose my job, however the level of discrimination against me as a disabled person did not get any less and I ended up leaving that job. Saddest thing, they were all chaplains at a hospital and I was the intern chaplain in training.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

that is just wrong on so many levels , thank you for sharing that with us ❤

[@thedolv]

I've brought mobility aids on planes before, both a rollator/walker and a manual wheelchair. But I just got an electric power wheelchair, a very compact and foldable one, and I'm extremely nervous about traveling with it in a month or so ... All the what ifs are going through my head thinking about it ...

[@christophpenny1457]

Deeply sorry to bother you, just wondering as your a content creator and in the know, have you heard anything about Richard from wheels2walking in the last 2 years, I’m getting incredibly worried especially now that I noticed his online shop has been closed, and the last few sentences of his last posted video is very concerning 😢❤ thank you for your videos and being fabulous

[@RoadkillbunnyUK]

When I was blue lighted to the hospital having tried quite hard to die my wheelchair obviously didn’t come with me however since then I have had to ambulance in two more times and on both managed to sweet talk the paramedics into bringing my chair (help by the fact that my self propelled chair is folding)I even know exactly hoe to stow it safely strapped in but they do say that they aren’t supposed to. Having my chair in hospital is then a project to make sure my chair stays with me as I move around the hospital. I have had my chair moved away from my bed but it has not been something that has worried to much as I’m always on oxygen in hospital and tea tethered to the bed. The only time I was transferring to the toilet myself was when I was I had Covid last year on the infectious disease ward with coved as I had an on suit bathroom and a bed that had the type of rails I can use to transfer

[@debbiesanderson9466]

I can just about get around with my rollater walker and was refused to have it taken to hospital with me. I even said I would sign a waiver but I was so upset as I live alone and had no way to get it bought to me when I was discharged.

[@stephaniemcquillan1930]

Just this weekend I heard about a girl in a wheelchair who was left stranded on the tarmac of an airport while her plane took off without her. The pilot had made some sort of signal to her that she couldn’t board

[@jeffkardosjr.3825]

There was a news segment on an airport in North Carolina about disabled not being assisted this past week or two.

[@stephaniemcquillan1930]

@@jeffkardosjr.3825 it’s terrible. I grew up going to Florida every year and both airports on both ends were very good, but the last time was 20 years ago so I can well believe it’s all change now

[@Wheelsnoheels]

WHAT , Left on the tarmac , that sounds horrendous 😑

[@stephaniemcquillan1930]

@@Wheelsnoheels I know. I don’t really know how or why that could have happened. Apparently there were 2 wheelchair users left behind.

[@HydrocephalusQueen]

I use an all terrain disability buggy as find it copes better at events than a wheelchair ♿️ also have an AirTag on mine also good luck getting anything added to a care plan as they appear non existent at least in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 anyway 😔🤦🏼‍♀️

[@AutisticlyRose]

Last week I learned that if you end up on a mental floor they will take everything away and you get a manual wheelchair to use. I use a rollator in my normal life.

[@kyrie2516]

Look I think your private property ability aide must be transported with you tell the places the say they can place your chairs, walkers, etc. especially when you’re in “handicap seating” requested in advance.

[@billiebluesheepie2907]

I use a wheelchair full time and last year I fell out of it (because of a hole in the pavement) and broke my hip, requiring an emergency half hip replacement - they said I couldn’t use the wheelchair because the seat was a bucket seat and that I was on hip precautions so I couldn’t bend less than 90° at the waist - so I was told I was being discharged home with a hospital bed, hoist, commode and an arm chair; and that I would be living in a single room for the next few months. I left hospital against medical advice, and put a folded up coat under my wheelchair cushion to make it a bit higher and very slowly and carefully tried to get back to a normal life. I don’t have any of the strength that I had before my accident and now need to use a bus to be able to get into town.

[@lisakent1979]

I had my chair refused and I have no members of family to bring it in. So I spent 7½ weeks confined to a bed because I couldn't access the chairs they had either.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

im so sorry to hear that , thanks for sharing❤

[@melissaz6778]

I've got a podiatrist that won't let me keep my wheelchair in the room during the appointment. They claim that there is "no room" for it. Is it a little cramped? Yes, but it is manageable in my opinion. They take it out in to the waiting room where anyone can take or damage it. I've said no every time but get ignored. I've considered telling them they will then have to then do the appointment while I'm in my wheelchair, but then they don't do a good enough job on my feet because of the awkward position. Thankfully, I now only need to see them once every couple of years.

[@Iamseraphinamusic]

Every time I’ve used an ambulance I’ve had to beg them to bring my wheelchair. It wasn’t until one time when I wasn’t responsive that they didn’t bring it! When I was discharged from hospital I was like…… but I can’t walk?! It took them 12 hours to organize a patient transfer vehicle to bring me home lol

[@Wheelsnoheels]

thank you for commenting 🙂

[@ryuudrazyl5330]

"Guffaw and scoff! Oh, I can see you now!" 😊❤

[@nikkiwunderlich3570]

I use a white cane, especially in unfamiliar places and if someone wanted to try to take away my white cane I’d be like no you’re not taking it. It’s my eyes why don’t you try to get walking around and not being able to see and see if you’d want someone to take it.

[@katkin4444]

My chair would have to be brought in by family. The issue I then had was stopping ward staff & porters taking it! On one admission I lost it for three weeks! I'd have to ring the bell & wait for another route to the bathroom , rather than move under my own steam. Thankfully my name band was on the chair due to pasty experiences. I then attached 3d flowers to it, & kept it behind a curtain where possible. Back in my mobile days I'd have my crutches taken away in nightclubs after drunken men would run off with them or use them as pretend guns.

[@Wheelsnoheels]

been there my friend ,thx for sharing❤

[@richardholder8970]

I have got an AirTag for when we fly over the water in seven weeks time so we can find out where it lands hopefully the same place as me!👨🏻‍🦽✈️🇺🇸!❤️

[@octoberna7949]

Tbh with the ambulance my fear would be like...losing it forever. If I'm in an accident and you just leave my chair behind then even if I survive...kinda fucked anyways aren't I? Like what is the plan you can't just go "eh it's fine on the side of the road it'll still be there when this person leaves hospital in a week which they can totally do without a chair"???

[@emmarichardson2521]

Yep that's my fear, my all terrain powerchair cost nearly 15,000 which I could only afford because my grandma left me money, theirs no way I can afford to replace it. I do have it insured but if it's left somewhere unsecured insurance won't pay out if it either disappears or get damaged by being left out in very heavy rain for example

[@octoberna7949]

@@emmarichardson2521 Yes exactly - I've got a label on it with my contact number and plan to get an airtag like a few here have said...but damn, new fear unlocked...

[@Veronica-ew8yc]

My husband takes my chair sometimes as a "joke" i cant stand it! Its my freedom! Not a toy!

[@JackStanley-qr9lh]

I went on a plane recently and they somehow must've put something on top of my wheelchair and it is seized the push. You know where you push the button into wheels, but other than that I think I'm it myself but thought I mentioned it from the ground perspective, in case he happened to the ground.😡

[@rogerokelley]

Hello from Atlanta 👍👍

[@emmarichardson2521]

I used to have a manual wheelchair aswell as a powerchair. I cannot uself propel a manual, havent been able to for about 6 years as I've had a permanently partially dislocated shoulder for that long but I initially kept my manual thinking at leats iglf I end up having to go to hospital via ambulance I can go in my chair which is far more comfortable than hospital wheelchairs but no they said they could not even take my manual wheelchair which then meant I could not just get a taxi home if I had had my manual maybe the taxi driver would have agreed to push it from his taxi to my door or if not I could have done the very slow 1 armed self propel using my feet to help me along too as I can move my legs they just dislocate when I try to walk so I had to get hospital transport to take me home. I found my manual wheelchair a new home seen as it was not even useful for when I needed an ambulance My powerchair I can understand them not being able to take as its big but having heard of people being expected to just abandon their powerchair in the street.... well if I get serious symptoms that could be for example a heart attack when I am out without a carer I will be rying to get home before phoning an ambulance because I cant afford to just abandon my powerchair that cost nearly £15,000 I could only afford to buy it in the first place because of my grandma leaving me money. Wheelchair services only provide very basic powerchairs that do not have good enough suspension for me with how unstable my joints are so I really would rather risk dying to get my chair to safety than abandon it! Really what we could do with is a system in place where if an ambulance cannot take a patients wheelchair ideally transport if arranged so the chair will end up at the hospital asap and in the meantime it will be take into a shop/pub/cafe anywhere that can get it in so it is kept safe in the meantime Whenever I need to go to a&e I contact my care agency first as I have a wheelchair accessible vehicle & if it's just a dislocation i cant fix myself then i dont need an ambulance but do need to be seen at a&e. The care agency I use is small & often they can't free someone up to drive me there. I have looked for taxis that can take my powerchair & their are none in the area, the closest quoted me several years ago over £100 each way! I cannot afford that so if Icant find someone ro take me in my vehicle I have to get an ambulance out, I feel terrible for doing so as I simply need transport but what else can I do? I then have to explain after a joint has been popped back in & I am discharged that I cannot get a taxi home, the nurse always wants to book me a taxi & have them go in my house & bring my powerchair out to me. I tell them if they can find a taxi driver happy to do that thats fine but of course none will agree so eventually hospital transport is sorted for me. Why it has to be a battle evry time I do not know

[@TheMazinoz]

Go Shawn! Such an Aussie male thing to do!