Service Specialist Wheelchair Service (East Berkshire)

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Service overview

We provide wheelchair assessments and equipment if you have trouble walking because of a long-term health problem. This includes:

  • spinal injury
  • cerebral palsy
  • neurological or muscle conditions
  • heart or circulation problems
  • amputation
  • palliative (end-of-life) care

We can help with manual and powered wheelchairs, children’s buggies, seating, and cushions. We also make sure you can access services that fix and maintain wheelchairs.

Accessing our service

If you’re unable to walk within your home because of a long-term health condition, we may be able to provide you with a wheelchair.

We accept referrals for people who are registered with a GP in:

  • East Berkshire
  • South Buckinghamshire

Referrals must be made by a GP, consultant, or registered healthcare professional.

Our service is for anyone aged three years and over, except for children who need postural support and would benefit from the input of other services. Postural support means special seating or devices that help you sit straight and safely.

If you or someone you care for needs more support after your assessment, you can contact us directly.

Referrals by healthcare professionals

If you are a healthcare professional, fill in the referral form and email it to us.

Referral form - East Berkshire Wheelchair Service

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West Berkshire

If you're registered with a GP in West Berkshire, contact the Wheelchair Service based at AJM Healthcare.

Call 0808 168 0855 or visit their website for more information. 

Preparing for an assessment

Once you have been referred to our service, we’ll contact you by phone or letter and arrange an assessment. 

We aim to see you within two to eight weeks, depending on the urgency of the referral. Appointments usually last about an hour. Full details will be included in your appointment letter.

Our clinic area has been designed specifically for disabled patients and includes step-free access, an accessible toilet, and hoisting facilities.

You're welcome to bring a friend, family member, or carer to your assessment. If you need a chaperone or interpreter, please let us know in advance.

During the assessment we may:

  • carry out postural assessments
  • take measurements
  • consider your medical conditions
  • review how you're managing your mobility

We sometimes carry out home visits, depending on your needs.

Managing your health

Using a wheelchair

Our support guides and videos are designed to help wheelchair users and carers use them safely and keep the parts and equipment in good condition. We have also produced a guide about seated exercises.

Health and fitness

The organisations listed below give advice about ways to stay active and reduce your risk of injury as a wheelchair user.

WheelPower

Find advice and information about getting active from the national charity for wheelchair sport. Their website and YouTube channel includes exercise class videos.

Back Up

The Back Up Wheelchair Skills App has videos demonstrating skills that can help you get around in a wheelchair.

Adapt to Perform

This YouTube channel provides a variety of wheelchair workout videos.

Sports opportunities

Rivermead Leisure Complex, Reading
Phone: 0118 9015000
They have some gym equipment suitable for people with disabilities. Please contact them directly to arrange a visit.

Circle Rehabilitation, Reading
Phone: 0118 922 6836
They can provide outpatient physiotherapy for neurological conditions, and has lots of rehabilitation equipment available.
 
West Berkshire Therapy Centre, Thatcham
Phone: 0163 586 4561
This is a gym adapted for people with disabilities, and has three Motomeds/Theratrainers.
 
Wheel Sport, Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Aylesbury
Phone: 0129 639 5995/484 848
Offers lots of different wheelchair sports, and has a gym.
 
After SportsAble, Maidenhead
Phone: 0162 862 7690
Offers wheelchair based sports, and has a wheelchair roller.

Patient attending a appointment

Your e-Health Passport

Your e-Health Passport lets us know what's important to you - from your preferred name and pronouns to how you'd like us to support you and communicate with you.

Learn more

Contact us and FAQs

Specialist Wheelchair Service

Contact number: 0118 904 3222 Monday to Thursday - 9am-5pm, Friday - 8.30am-4.30pm (excluding bank holidays)

Email: berkseast.mobility@berkshire.nhs.uk

Location details

Ross Care Wheelchair Repair and Maintenance service

Our wheelchairs are maintained and repaired by Ross Care. Please call them directly to arrange collections or repairs. The out-of-hours emergency repair service is open from 7am to 8am and 5pm to 11pm. At weekends and on bank holidays, the emergency service runs from 7am to 11pm.

Contact number: 0333 999 2593 Option 2

Alternate contact number: 0333 234 0303 Option 2

Non-emergency patient transport

EMED Group offers patient transport, ambulance, healthcare and social care services across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire West, and Frimley.

Contact number: 0300 777 3333

Frequently asked questions

What facilities do you have at your sites?
  • Free parking with two bays allocated for patients
  • Accessible toilet
  • Hoisting facilities
  • Step-free ground floor access
  • Wheelchair training ramp
Who do I contact to arrange a wheelchair repair?

For repairs, phone Ross Care on 0333 999 2593 or 0333 234 0303 (choose option 2). Please arrange collections or repairs directly with them.

They are available Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, but also have an out-of-hours emergency repair service that runs:

  • 7am to 8am and 5pm to 11pm on weekdays
  • 7am to 11pm at weekends and on bank holidays
How can I get to my appointment using public transport?

For information, visit the website of these organisations:

  • UK government (GOV.UK) for transport support
  • National Rail for accessible train travel advice
  • EMED Group for non-emergency patient transport (NEPTS)
Can I share my ideas to improve your service?

Yes. We hold regular focus groups.

You can find details of our upcoming sessions at the bottom of this page, or email us at berkseast.mobility@berkshire.nhs.uk.

We can also help you with:

Is there any information for friends, family and carers?

If you’re a family member, carer, or you look after someone, there’s practical, financial, and emotional support available from a range of local communities and national organisations.  

How do I request an interpreter?

We can provide language translation and interpretation support.

Tell our staff which language you prefer to use, and we will make sure the right communication support is in place for your assessment and treatment. Please let us know as early as possible so we can ensure the appropriate translation or interpreting support is available.

We offer a range of professional services to ensure everyone can understand and be understood:

  • Telephone interpreting
  • Video remote interpreting (VRI)
  • Face‑to‑face interpreting
  • Written translation
  • British Sign Language (BSL) interpreting
How can I get information in an accessible format?

Anyone with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss has the right to get information in a format that meets their needs.

The Accessible Information Standard (AIS) is a legal requirement for all health and adult social care providers. This means making sure that people who use our services, including carers and families, can understand our information and communicate with us easily.

We can offer information in a range of accessible formats, including:

  • British Sign Language (BSL)
  • Large print
  • Braille
  • Audio
  • Easy read
  • Email
  • Text message
  • Face‑to‑face support with a carer or advocate present

If you need information in any of these formats, please tell a member of our team and we will make sure your communication needs are met.

Are service dogs allowed at my appointment?

Yes, you are welcome to bring your registered service animal, such as a guide dog, hearing dog, medical alert dog, or other trained assistance dog to your appointment.

These animals are recognised as essential support and are permitted in most areas of our services.

To help us prepare, please let the team know before your appointment if you will be attending with a service animal. This allows us to make sure the environment is safe and comfortable for you, your animal, and other patients.

Please note that service animals may not be able to enter certain restricted clinical areas for safety or infection‑control reasons, but we will always work with you to find an appropriate alternative.

What does it mean to treat our team with respect?

Respect is important.

We will be polite and kind and we expect that you treat our staff in the same way.

Abuse, hate and discrimination against our staff is unacceptable.

We will take strong action against anyone who is verbally, racially, physically, or sexually abusive to them.

This may include contacting the police to prosecute, and stopping future access to our healthcare services.

How do I find my NHS number?

The easiest way to find your NHS number is using the official NHS online service which can be accessed below.

You may also want to read our guidance page for more information about other ways to find your NHS number or what to do if you cannot find yours.

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External support

Alzheimer’s Society

Offers dementia support hubs, information, and practical guidance.

Bracknell Forest Council

Find a wide range of services, guidance, and resources. This includes information about Disabled Facilities Grants and support for mental health and wellbeing.

EMED Group

Non-emergency patient transport (NEPT) services.

Motability Scheme

Enables disabled people, their families, and their carers to lease a new car, scooter, or powered wheelchair.

Parkinson's UK

Information about support and treatments for people with Parkinson's disease.

Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM)

Find information about adult social care support.

Slough Borough Council

Find resources about social care services.

Stroke Association 

Support and information for people who have had a stroke.

Patient focus groups

East Berkshire Wheelchair Service patient focus group sessions

3 Abell Gardens, Furze Platt Road, Maidenhead, SL6 6PS

Share your thoughts about how we can improve our service.

You are welcome to join these sessions if you use a wheelchair, or support someone who does.

Email berkseast.mobility@berkshire.nhs.uk to sign up.

December 2026

10th December

11am to 12.30pm

Location details