Hodge Jones & Allen: Whizzy Bug Loan Scheme

Obtaining funding for a powered wheelchair can be difficult at any age, but even more difficult for pre-school age children who can grow out of a wheelchair by the time funding has been provided and a wheelchair delivered.  Hodge Jones & Allen are aware of a valuable scheme that has addressed this issue with their Wizzybug Loan Scheme.  Occupational Therapists at Bush & Co www.bush.co.uk direct clients to Wizzybug Loan Scheme when they can. 

Wizzybug Loan Scheme

The Wizzybug is a fun first experience of powered mobility for children aged 18 months to five years

to learn to move independently. It is well researched that at this young age, self-produced mobility impacts on all aspects of development.  To ensure that this window of opportunity is not missed, the national charity, Designability is loaning out Wizzybugs free of charge to children in mainland UK who could benefit from them.

Wizzybug can be easily adjusted to meet a child’s individual postural needs and can be driven using a joystick or switches.  It can be used indoors at home and in nursery and outdoors in accessible areas such as level gardens, playgrounds and parks.  It also dismantles so that it can be transported in a small family car to take to the park, nursery, shops or grandparents’ home.

Through the loan scheme, families receive a Wizzybug to use for as long as the child can benefit.  Parents are asked to pay a security deposit of £200.00, which is refunded when their Wizzybug is returned in an acceptable condition at the end of the loan period.

Application forms need to be completed by the child’s therapist and are available from Designability on 01225 824103 or from anneharris@designability.org.uk

For more information please visit www.designability.org.uk
Julie Say is a Partner and Head of Clinical Negligence at Hodge Jones & Allen
jsay@hja.net