Paralympic champion helps to mark the relocation of East Berkshire Specialist Wheelchair service
On 30 January, our CEO Julian Emms, was joined by patients, staff and special guests to open the East Berkshire Specialist Wheelchair Service at 3 Abell Gardens in Maidenhead.
Relocated from five buildings at St Mark’s Hospital, the new, improved facilities enable services to be provided under one roof, including more clinical space, storage, an in-house workshop and access to a training ramp.
Addressing guests, Julian Emms, said:
“One of the visitors said to me today, it’s a service to be proud of and this new facility elevates its importance, which I think is absolutely spot on.”
Staff were joined by Jeanette Chippington MBE, pictured below, who won gold in the KL1 200m at paracanoe's debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. She said:
“It’s absolutely incredible, I’m so impressed with it, I’ve used the facilities myself, they seem to think of everything.”
Magda Novak, Manager of East Berkshire Specialist Wheelchair service, said:
“I’m so grateful for everyone who helped pull this together and made it possible for us to move here.”
“Everyone really loves it, our staff love it, and patients have commented how bright and cheerful it is coming in.”
The East Berkshire Specialist Wheelchair Service provides specialised seating for adults and children aged 12 months and up who have severe long term degenerative physical mobility difficulties with associated postural challenges.
Our highly trained specialist staff provide holistic, evidence based assessments to identify postural and mobility needs. They prescribe the equipment required to meet those needs, and then ensure the equipment provided is adapted and fitted to individually fit our patients.
Every wheelchair is unique, reflecting the specialism that our service provides, and equipment includes electrical powered indoor/outdoor chairs, manual and self-propelling chairs, specialised children’s buggies, specialist cushions and accessories.
Find out more about our Wheelchair service
You can see a video of the ribbon cutting, and see all of our latest news and events, on our Twitter page. Cutting the ribbon with Julian was Georgiana Devine, a patient at our Wheelchair service.
In the video, Julian is joined by staff from our Wheelchair service, and