§ 95 and 96. Mr. Higginsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services(1) under what circumstances powered wheelchairs for outdoor use are provided by Government Departments to the disabled:
18W(2) if he will estimate what is the cost to his Department of supplying Power-drive wheelchairs for indoor use, and of a Wrigley or Traveller indoor/outdoor wheelchair, respectively.
§ Dr. John DunwoodyPatient-operated powered outdoor wheelchairs are not provided under the National Health Service. Under present legislation it would be illegal to operate them on pavements and they could not conveniently join the traffic on highways. If the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Bill were enacted, specified types of powered wheelchairs would be able to use pavements.
An attendant-operated, electrically powered wheelchair is provided when self manual operation is impossible for the patient and the person caring for him is unable to cope.
Expenditure in England and Wales on powered indoor wheelchairs, of which a few are of the Powerdrive brand, was about £58,000 for the year ended 31st March, 1969. No indoor/outdoor wheelchairs are provided and in the absence of criteria for supply no estimate of the cost can be attempted.