FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
Buying & Hiring Disability Equipment
Short term & occasional use
If a wheelchair, raised toilet seat or other small item is only needed for a short period of time it can be loaned from the British Red Cross, 01730 266355, or hired from Voluntary Association for Surrey Disabled, 01306 741500.
Wheelchairs & scooters can also be hired for longer periods from voluntary organisations and commercial companies such as:
| E = electric M= manual S= scooters | |||
| Age Concern | Chertsey | 01932 566040 | |
| All Handling | Aldershot | 01252 319130 | E,M,S |
| Care Providers | Croydon | 0208 656 4627 | M |
| Carters Ability | Herts | 01923 825753 | M |
| Cavell Homecare | Bromley | 0208 4628900 | |
| Hewerdine | Egham | 01784 460770 | M |
| Rapley | Dorking | 01306 882605 | M,E |
| Walton’s Homecare | Walton | 01737 819752 |
Shopmobility 08456 442446 have scooters and wheelchairs for hire while at shopping centres. In Surrey the schemes can be found in Camberley, Crawley, Croydon, Epsom, Guildford, Horsham, Leatherhead, Redhill, Staines, Sutton & Woking. Many supermarkets have wheelchairs for use in their shops. Most visitor attractions have wheelchairs and scooters for use while on site.
Tourism for All, 0845 124 9971 have information on hotels & self catering accommodation with specialised equipment like hoists.
Disability information services in Surrey can advise on local services that loan or hire equipment.
To find out about hiring hire hoists, stair lifts, beds & medical equipment contact SID, 0800 0439395.
Patients discharged from hospital should have a plan which has been devised to include any equipment & support they may need from relatives, health professionals & social services.
An assessment can be requested from Surrey Social Services, 08456 009009, and can entitle the disabled person and carer to equipment that can help with everyday activities like bathing, sitting & sleeping.
Surrey Association for Visually Impairment (SAVI), 01372 377701, assess visually impaired people for equipment. Surrey Deaf Services Team, 01372 376558 (voice & minicom), assess hearing impaired people for equipment & services.
AbilityNet, 01932 814558, assess disabled people for computer software and equipment & Communicability assess people with communication difficulties & give grants to buy telephones & other communications equipment. The Aidis Trust has information on using computer technology if you have a disability.
QEF Mobility Centre, 0208 770 1151, offer assessments for using scooters and driving cars.
NHS wheelchairs can be obtained after an assessment at a wheelchair assessment centre. Referral is by a GP.
Access to Work, 01273 364750, can provide funding for equipment for disabled employees & self employed people.
Community Alarm services (24hrs) which enable disabled & elderly people to summon help if they fall or are worried when they are alone are run by Age Concern, Help the Aged Seniorlink, 0800 800 6565l, & local authorities. Telecare services which provide bed sensors, fall detectors & other equipment linked to the community alarm service are also run by local authorities.
New disability equipment
Medical equipment is available from the NHS via the district nurse or GP, physiotherapist or other health professional. New disability equipment may be available from social services after an assessment or can be purchased from specialist shops.
| *have a mail order service | ||
| Force Ten | Bookham | 01372 450887 |
| Rapley & Co | Dorking | 01306 882605 |
| VASD * | Dorking | 01306 741500 |
| Lifelong Surrey | Epsom | 0208 394 0444 |
| EPC | Farnborough | 01252 547939 |
| Caltek | Merstham | 01737 647947 |
| Keep Able * | Staines | 01784 440044 |
| Waltons Homecare | Tadworth | 01737 819752 |
| One Stop Mobility | Woking | 01932 353839 |
| ASV the Caring Shop | Woking | 01276 855822 |
Surrey Association for Visual Impairment, 01372 377701 sell aids & equipment for visually impaired people and offer independence training.
DeafPLUS, 01252 313882, have a mobile unit which visits locations in Surrey selling aids & equipment for hearing impaired people.
Disabled Living Foundation, 0845 130 9177 (calls charged at local rate}, can provide advice & information on manufacturers and suppliers of specialist items of equipment. They have comprehensive fact sheets on disability equipment and an equipment assessment feature SARA can help to track down equipment that meets individual requirements.
Ricability, 0207 4272460, produce clear, practical guides on items like continence products, household items & mobility.
BT, 0800 800150, have a range of telephones & services for blind & disabled people.
+ Additional Information: > DLF supplier directory
More information on living with a disability in Surrey can be found at www.askenid.org.uk and in the leaflet Information for You available from SID (Social Information on Disability), 0800 0439395.