Mobility Services

Mother in law coming from France. She can't walk round the supermarket, so sightseeing will be a challenge.

I have seen mobility centres/shops in a lot of town centres, where they have electric scooters or wheelchairs on display.

Are these for hire or available for free? Do you need to be registered disabled to get one, or just clearly unable to walk far?

What about blue badges for parking, can you get these on a temporary basis for foreign visitors?

blue badges - you will not get for visitors

Those in the town centre are normally for that mall/area.

best bet is to google your local area and see what is about

[Quiff Wichard]

look up local ableworld.. they may hire..

[Quiff Wichard]

or here Col

http://www.nationalmobilityhire.com/

Otherwise contact your local red cross medical loans centre, they'll provide wheelchairs etc in retun for a donation

[Bibio]

small light foldaway wheelchair is the way to go. electric ones worth any salt are big heavy cumbersome beasts. if the battery drains while your out your stuck.

you can pick up a decent one on for sale ads for very little money. if you do go looking for a nice second hand one get one with the smaller wheel at the back as the large wheels are a pain to get in the boot. also make sure that you get one with foldaway handles. we have a cheepo u-go one and its brilliant. light portable and easy to push.

if you need any tips on pushing a chair gives a PM mate as there are some do's and dont's.

[yorkie_chris]

If you need a fold up transit* chair give us a shout, can probably sort you one out for peanuts.
Might even be able to sort you a borrow of a scooter out but no promises. You might have to come get it though.


*small wheels like bibio says

OK, thanks for the help and suggestions guys. It seems most of the places we want to go have "Shopmobility", which covers the city centre area, not just the shopping precinct itself, so we are just going to do that.

As previously stated the Red Cross will probs be your best bet hun.... mobility centres will hire out wheelchairs etc but in my experience it can prove quite costly. Best of luck and hope she enjoys her stay