20th April 2018
Getting to your appointment or visiting someone in Belfast City Hospital will soon be much easier with the arrival of the new Shopmobility service in April. The service, which is free of charge, will offer patients and visitors with restricted mobility the opportunity to hire a wheelchair or mobility scooter to reach their appointment independently.
Belfast Trust in partnership with Shopmobility are delighted to be able to provide the new service, located next to the disabled car parking opposite the Tower block and the Cancer Centre. The close proximity of Shopmobility means that it will be easily accessible for patients and visitors with restricted mobility.
The service, which will be open from 9 am – 5 pm, Monday – Friday, will offer patients and visitors with restricted mobility the opportunity to hire equipment from Shopmobility to enable them to reach their destination within the Hospital safely and comfortably.
On arrival at Shopmobility people can complete an application form before choosing the equipment of their choice, and are then free to travel to their appointment or visit. People leaving or being discharged from the Hospital can also contact Shopmobility to bring equipment to their ward. People who may require use of a vehicle at home for a few days may also do so for a nominal fee.
Shopmobility also offers a ‘Meet and greet’ service which facilitates an efficient service for all. If someone wants to visit the Hospital independently, they can telephone: 02890 230 380 or email: info@shopmobilitybelfast.co.uk to arrange a time for delivery of a vehicle of their choice to the car park or another location within the Hospital.
Shopmobility staff and volunteers are also trained as ‘Sighted Guides’ to accompany patients and visitors that are blind or have partial sight loss to their destination within the Hospital.
Extension of the scheme has been welcomed by Disability Steering Group members and Jennifer Thompson, Director of Planning Performance and Informatics, who acknowledged that the service would make a real difference for those with restricted mobility.
“We are delighted to be in a position to offer this service at Belfast City Hospital” Said Ms Thompson, “it reflects Trust values and is intrinsically linked to our vision to be one of the safest, most effective and compassionate health and social care organisations by recognising that people with restricted mobility are treated with respect and dignity and a high quality service is provided.
“Strong partnership working alongside Shopmobility, has enabled the provision of this valuable service and we anticipate that this new service will replicate the success of the existing service at the Royal hospital site. We are indebted to the Trust Charitable Funds and Ulster Garden Villages for their financial contribution to the scheme.”