Special equipment for the
Outer Hebrides
Neuro Hebrides works closely with other organisations to partner up to help provide special equipment to the community of the Outer Hebrides.
Beach Wheelchairs
Whether you live in the Outer Hebrides or are a visitor, one of the most magical and inspiring landscapes of the Outer Hebrides are the magnificent beaches.
But beautiful and inspiring beaches are often not accessible if you use a wheelchair or have limited mobility.
Neuro Hebrides wanted to help change that and is excited to announce that we have been successful in gaining funding to purchase not one, but two Beach Wheelchairs for the Outer Hebrides.
With thanks to The Outer Hebrides Community Led Local Development fund, Neuro Hebrides can help make beach access possible for those with limited mobility and wheelchair users.
It's fantastic to have the Beach wheelchairs available, it means that there is now Beach Wheelchairs available in Barra, Uist, Harris and Lewis, enabling beaches to still be accessible despite having limited mobility or use a wheelchair. Nicky, a Neuro Hebrides member, recently used the Beach Wheelchair from Tolsta Community Development and said "It's been such a long time since I've been to a beach as my legs are so wobbly so it was wonderful to be able to use the beach wheelchair. Just to be back on the sand, to listen to the waves and feel the sea breeze on my face, was so lovely. I felt like I'd got a little bit of me back from a time when I used to be down the beach everyday. Along with the very kind friends who had volunteered to give me a push, it turned out to be such a special afternoon despite the weather. I was on such a high for a long time afterwards'.
One of the Beach wheelchairs we purchase is for Uist. Neuro Hebrides is working in partnership with TAGSA in Benbecula to enable people across Uist to borrow the Beach wheelchair. You will be able to book a date and time to borrow the BWC with TAGSA, and they will transport it to the Beach you want to access ready for your trip. To book the Beach wheelchair in Uist, contact TAGSA info@tagsa.co.uk 01870 602111.
We also are working in partnership with Galson estate in Ness, Isle of Lewis, where the Beach wheelchair can be booked for trips to Eoropie beach. You will be able to book the Beach Wheelchair through Galson estate, it will be housed at Spors Nis and it can be taken to Eoropie ready for your trip. To book the Beach Wheelchair, contact Spors Nis 01851 810039 or info@sporsnis.co.uk.
We live in such a special place, and this is an exciting and important step to enable accessibility for all.
Improving access to the swimming pool at Lewis Sports Centre
Swimming is such a fantastic activity to improve your mental and physical health and wellbeing. For people living with a neurological condition, there are many benefits, such as improving balance and coordination and movement, and the gentle movement, warmth and feeling of relaxation can help to reduce sensitivity to pain and enhance overall wellbeing.
Swimming is an activity many of our members would like to participate in, but many people can feel anxious and reluctant to participate because of the difficulty in accessing the pool, or are unable to enter the pool without assistance.
Neuro Hebrides teamed up with Lewis Sports centre to help make the swimming pool more accessible for all. To make the pool accessible, some specialist equipment was needed; a hoist to enable people to be safely lowered into the pool, and some steps with a gradual incline to access the pool with ease.
The pool plays a vital role in the local community, and ensuring it is accessible for all will play a crucial role in reducing social isolation for many people by enabling them to participate in swimming related activities.
The improvements in accessing the pool will not only help people with neurological conditions, but will be beneficial to anyone who has difficultly in entering the water due to their limited mobility.
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Equipment in the home
Neuro Hebrides secured funding from the NHS Capital Grants awards to purchase some crucial equipment which can help patients with Neurological conditions in the Western Isles.
The equipment can be borrowed for use at home by patients with Neurological conditions in the Western Isles.
There is a Thera trainer Mobi, a small, motorised leg and upper arm body exerciser. It has been specially designed for use in the home and is compact and convenient, so it is easy to transport and move.
It can help to build and increase strength, endurance and metabolism for people with a range of conditions and it can be used while you're sitting at home on the sofa.
Also available is the Mangar Elk.
The ELK is an emergency lifting cushion which can be used for single handed care in the home for anyone who has fallen in a confined space, such as the bathroom. The person who has fallen can shuffle or be rolled on to the Elk which inflates to help them to sit up.
It is suitable for use in the home by people who aren't medically trained.
Equipment loans can be organised through the Community Equipment Store, who will deliver and pick up the equipment.
Specific clinicians will be able to log equipment out to patients - these include the neuro and stroke specialist nurses plus community physio and identified occupational therapists.
The equipment is located throughout the Western Isles so there will be access to it whether you live in Lewis, Harris, The Uists or Barra.