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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Derby man left waiting more than a year for a wheelchair | Derby man left waiting more than a year for a wheelchair |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Mr Taylor says the delay is affecting his mental health | Mr Taylor says the delay is affecting his mental health |
| "I've been waiting so long, it is affecting my mental health - it feels as if I'm just stuck and relying on everybody else." | "I've been waiting so long, it is affecting my mental health - it feels as if I'm just stuck and relying on everybody else." |
| Robert Taylor has a spinal condition that means he is unable to walk unaided. | Robert Taylor has a spinal condition that means he is unable to walk unaided. |
| The 56-year-old, from South Normanton, Derbyshire, was left with mobility issues after complications during spinal surgery in 2019. | The 56-year-old, from South Normanton, Derbyshire, was left with mobility issues after complications during spinal surgery in 2019. |
| He was referred for a wheelchair in February 2024 but is still waiting to receive the custom piece of equipment. | He was referred for a wheelchair in February 2024 but is still waiting to receive the custom piece of equipment. |
| Robert can no longer work or drive and uses crutches to move small distances | Robert can no longer work or drive and uses crutches to move small distances |
| Mr Taylor has Cauda equina syndrome which occurs when spinal nerves are put under pressure or squashed. | Mr Taylor has Cauda equina syndrome which occurs when spinal nerves are put under pressure or squashed. |
| He was referred to AJM Healthcare Wheelchair Service in Derbyshire by his physio at the spinal injuries unit at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital. | He was referred to AJM Healthcare Wheelchair Service in Derbyshire by his physio at the spinal injuries unit at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital. |
| "It took me about two months just to get an appointment to be measured," he told the BBC. | "It took me about two months just to get an appointment to be measured," he told the BBC. |
| "It would have been at the end of May [2024] that I went and they measured me up and showed me a couple of options, I decided to go for a lightweight sports one so I could easily get it in and out of the boot of the car." | "It would have been at the end of May [2024] that I went and they measured me up and showed me a couple of options, I decided to go for a lightweight sports one so I could easily get it in and out of the boot of the car." |
| After the initial appointment Robert said he spent months "chasing" the whereabouts of his chair. | After the initial appointment Robert said he spent months "chasing" the whereabouts of his chair. |
| "I have to do the chasing, they never ring me, I've explained my situation, I'm really struggling and I just get fobbed off," he said. | "I have to do the chasing, they never ring me, I've explained my situation, I'm really struggling and I just get fobbed off," he said. |
| Mr Taylor bought a wheelchair but found it was not the right size for him | Mr Taylor bought a wheelchair but found it was not the right size for him |
| A spokesperson for AJM Healthcare said: "We are actively supporting the people affected to reduce any further unnecessary delay and/or miscommunication. | A spokesperson for AJM Healthcare said: "We are actively supporting the people affected to reduce any further unnecessary delay and/or miscommunication. |
| "We know that a timely resolution is of the utmost priority for everyone experiencing an issue, and we are committed to strengthening our processes and ensuring that our communication channels are clear and effective." | "We know that a timely resolution is of the utmost priority for everyone experiencing an issue, and we are committed to strengthening our processes and ensuring that our communication channels are clear and effective." |
| Mr Taylor currently uses two crutches to move around the house and to walk small distances. | Mr Taylor currently uses two crutches to move around the house and to walk small distances. |
| "There is too much fatigue and pain," he said. "I could hardly get to the car at the bottom of the drive with crutches, I've been needing a wheelchair for a while now. | "There is too much fatigue and pain," he said. "I could hardly get to the car at the bottom of the drive with crutches, I've been needing a wheelchair for a while now. |
| "We bought our own wheelchair but it's not suitable, it just doesn't fit right, it's far too small, my knees are under my chin so I never used it properly. | "We bought our own wheelchair but it's not suitable, it just doesn't fit right, it's far too small, my knees are under my chin so I never used it properly. |
| Mr Taylor said losing his mobility had turned his life "upside down" as he is unable to work and is "nigh-on housebound." | Mr Taylor said losing his mobility had turned his life "upside down" as he is unable to work and is "nigh-on housebound." |
| "I can't get out and about, I can't go anywhere with my wife and son," he said. | "I can't get out and about, I can't go anywhere with my wife and son," he said. |
| Future 'taken away' | Future 'taken away' |
| Gary Dawson, support network manager at the Spinal Injuries Association said that Mr Taylor's situation was not uncommon. | Gary Dawson, support network manager at the Spinal Injuries Association said that Mr Taylor's situation was not uncommon. |
| "Wheelchair services are massively burdened by being so under-funded and under-staffed that it's become incredibly common for people to be waiting not only six months but potentially years for a custom piece of equipment that can be absolutely life changing to them. | "Wheelchair services are massively burdened by being so under-funded and under-staffed that it's become incredibly common for people to be waiting not only six months but potentially years for a custom piece of equipment that can be absolutely life changing to them. |
| "When you can't access a piece of mobility equipment that's going to enable you to be independent it means that you are stuck | "When you can't access a piece of mobility equipment that's going to enable you to be independent it means that you are stuck |
| "So that means all this rehabilitation that you've already gone through, the future that you've been set up for all of a sudden has been taken away from you and completely put on hold while you're waiting, for your own wheelchair." | "So that means all this rehabilitation that you've already gone through, the future that you've been set up for all of a sudden has been taken away from you and completely put on hold while you're waiting, for your own wheelchair." |
| After the BBC contacted AJM Healthcare, the company provided Mr Taylor with a temporary wheelchair on Saturday, until a permanent one arrives at a later date. | |
| Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. | Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. |