Rogue traders warning for Stourbridge residents

From http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/

STOURBRIDGE residents are being warned to watch out for high pressure sales people targeting vulnerable people in the area.

Dudley Council’s adult social care team and trading standards officers are urging people to be wary of representatives of any firms claiming to have connections to social services.

Trading watchdogs say shady firms, including a group known as ABM Mobility, may be at work in the region.

Officers say dodgy trading techniques include missing appointments and sales people pressurising customers to buy large pieces of equipment such as stairlifts and beds.

Domestic Wheelchair Lifts

Dolphin Lifts can supply domestic wheelchair lifts, sometimes known as home lifts, from 3 manufacturers. This choice enables Dolphin to recommend the right equipment for each client’s needs without compromising on quality or safety.

 Pollock Wheelchair Lift

The Pollock Wheelchair Lift is available with a traction drive system with a capacity of 178kg or a hydraulic drive with a capacity of 230kg. Pollock is the only manufacturer with the option of a side-hung configuration, although this results in a weight capacity of 158kg.

Wessex Wheelchair Lift

The Wessex Wheelchair Lift is available in three platform sizes and can achieve a maximum travel of 3.5m. As with all of our home lifts, In the event of power failure emergency back-up systems operate the door, light and alarm, and lower the lift to the ground.

Terry Harmony Wheelchair Lift

The Terry Harmony Wheelchair Lift is available with a range of trim colours and special car sizes in wheelchair model 200mm longer, 150mm wider or both.

Terry Lifts TSL 1000 Step Lift

Provides both wheelchair and pedestrian access to the existing doorway. Suitable for internal or external applications up to 1000mm.

Built in the UK to BS 6440 by a Company with over 30 years' experience in mobility and access products and newly available to Dolphin Mobility.The Terry Lifts range of wheelchair lifts and step lifts, are a fantastic addition to our product range. Please call us on 0800 9800 126 for more details.

Terry Lifts TSL 500 Step Lift

Provides both wheelchair and pedestrian access to the existing doorway. Suitable for internal or external applications up to 500mm.

Newly available from Dolphin Mobility, the Terry Lifts range of wheelchair lifts and step lifts, are a fantastic addition to our product range. Please call us on 0800 9800 126 for more details.

Terry Compact Through Floor Lift

As space is always limited Terry Lifts have employed an ingenious car design so that the Harmony Compact lift is only fractionally larger on the outside than it is on the inside. A larger version of this lift is available for wheelchair users.

Newly available from Dolphin, the Terry Lifts range of wheelchair lifts and step lifts, are a fantastic addition to our product range. Please call us on 0800 9800 126 for more details.

Terry Harmony Domestic Through Floor Wheelchair Lift

Regain the freedom of your home by travelling between floors smoothly, quietly and safely in the Terry Harmony wheelchair lift.

A selection of trim colours and platform sizes are available as well as the option of a powered door. For more information call Dolphin Lifts on 0800 9800 126.

Terry Lifts Full Product Lift Range

Terry Lifts full product range video.>

Terry Lifts Harmony 'Through Floor Lift'

Newly available from Dolphin, the Terry Lifts range of wheelchair lifts and step lifts, are a fantastic addition to our product range.

Stannah Stairlifts - Sofia two way powered swivel stair lifts video

Available to buy from Dolphin Mobility.

Minivator Travel Track Portable Gantry Hoist

Another new addition to Dolphin's Hoist range is the Minivator travel track portable gantry hoist.

Travel Track offers a safe and strong temporary gantry solution and is compatible with most portable hoist carriages.Including the V3 portable hoist and the Voyager portable hoist.

Folding up into a wheeled travel case, about the size of a golf bag, the Travel Track can be easily transported, meaning that people can travel away from home without the worry of how they can transfer between their bed and wheelchair.

Travel Track can be erected by one person, simply open the case and extend the locking telescopic legs into place.

For more information visit the Dolphin Lifts site or call free on 0800 9800 126. Price shown on the website is for supply only. Installation costs available on request.

BHM V3 Portable Hoist Price Reduction

BHM V3 Portable Hoist

Dolphin are pleased to announce a £150 price reduction on the V3 Portable hoist which is now available for only £1150. The V3 hoist is perfect for use with the following gantry systems.

The Voyager Easytrack Hoist System

The Easytrack FS Free Standing Hoist System

The Travel Track Portable Gantry System

For more information visit the Dolphin Hoists page or call free on 0800 9800 126. Price shown on the website is for supply only. Installation costs available on request.

Handi-Move Classic Spreader Bar

Classic Spreader Bar

• Two-point bar.
• Four-point bar with separate sidebars. Wider suspension point spacing for increased sitting comfort.
• Easily interchangeable.
• Easy to hook into the eye nut.

Handi-Move Combi Spreader Bar

Combi Spreader Bar

• Four-point bar.
• Wider suspension point spacing for increased sitting comfort.
• Adequate headroom.
• Made from stainless steel.
• Attached to the eye nut by hooks.
• Can easily be exchanged with the body support.
• Easy to use with weighing scales.aa

Handi-Move Standard Hoist Spreader Bar

Standard Spreader Bar

• Four-point bar.
• Wider suspension point spacing for increased sitting comfort.
• Adequate headroom.
• Made from stainless steel.
• Attached directly to the eye nut.

Handi-Move Hoist Spreader Bar

Hand-Move hoist systems can be fitted with all types of spreader bars.
The loops of the slings are attached to the spreader bar.

• The curved shape provides a safe space around the user's head. The user's view is not impaired, so he or she can follow the actions of the caregiver.
• The sling loops can be attached or removed quickly and safely, which saves time and energy for caregivers.
• Two-point or four-point bars (two or four suspension points): the two-point type is often used in combination with a toilet sling, bath sling, or bath seat. The four-point bar is primarily used with a standard sling.
• A four-point bar with a standard sling provides better pressure distribution and is more comfortable thanks to the greater distance between the shoulder and leg loops.
• Three models: standard, combi, and conventional.
• With the conventional and combi models, you can quickly switch back and forth between a body support and a spreader bar.

Handi-Move Wall Lift Hoist

Newly available to Dolphin Mobility the Handi-Move wall lift can be fitted to a post between the floor and the ceiling if the walls aren't strong enough.

The Handi-Move wall lift is perferct for areas where access is restricted or where a convential ceiling fixed hoist is not feasible.

By purchasing additional fixings the same wall lift can be used in different rooms.

For more information visit the Dolphin Hoists page or call free on 0800 9800 126. Price shown on the website is for supply only. Installation costs available on request.

Disabled in Walsall 'punished' by funding cut

WALSALL Council stands accused of 'punishing the most vulnerable' of its residents after slashing its funding for supporting disabled people.

Disabled Facilities Grants, which fund the installation of equipment to support disabled residents in their homes, have been cut from £5.6 million in 2006/7 to £2.2 million this financial year.

For the full article visit 

http://www.thisiswalsallonline.co.uk

The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain

Produced by Motability, The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain contains:

• Over 175 inspiring ideas for great days out across the UK
• A wide range of reviews all by disabled visitors
• Something for everyone from parks and museums to scenic journeys and more
• Detailed information on accessibility

The Guide is £6.99 (inc p&p) for all non Blue Badge holders. If you are a Blue Badge holder then the Guide is FREE

EU directive may discourage new buy-to-let investors

The EU is currently examining a proposed directive that would require all residential landlords in the 27 member union to ensure that every rental property is accessible to those with physical disabilities. Current regulations in the UK only require landlords to make these modifications and invest in the appropriate infrastructure if they have a tenant with a disability. The new rules, however, would make these changes necessary, even if a given property has been rented out over the long-term to a tenant without any known disabilities and, as such, the new infrastructure would never be used.

This legislation, drafted by the European Commission (EC), would require landlords to add ramps to their properties, wherever there are steps to climb outside the building, add new, accessible washroom facilities and Landlord Assist, an organization that provides help when it comes to tenant evictions, believes that the legislation might also require the installation of very costly stair lifts.

Hospital launches ceiling hoist fundraising drive

A HOUSE to House Collection in aid of New Ross Community Hospital is to be carried out in every home in New Ross town throughout the month of October.

Following a very successful meeting in the Community Hospital on Wednesday night, a team of over 40 people have been assigned various parts of the town for this voluntary collection.

Organised by a newly established fundraising committee in New Ross Community Hospital, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the facility, all funds raised through this initiative will go towards the costly project of installing muchneeded ceiling hoists in the hospital.

'A few years ago the board of directors had investigated the possibility of installing ceiling hoists, which would greatly enhance the quality of care and respect the dignity of patients, but preliminary costings and lack of finance ruled this out. The fundraising committee which was formed in February decided to undertake raising the necessary funds to make the installation of ceiling hoists a reality,' said Frances Ryan, Chairperson of the Board of Directors.

According to Frances, it has been 20 years since New Ross Community Hospital has made a general appeal to the public for financial support.

'When we appealed to the community for assistance 20 years after the District Hospital was closed by the South Eastern Health Board in 1987 the response was magnificent. Contributions received enabled the company to equip the hospital, employ staff and get up and going. Acting on the response of the community to its closure, a company limited by guarantee was formed, the building leased by the company from the Health Board and New Ross Community Hospital became a reality when it opened in January 1989,' explained Frances. 'We are very mindful and appreciative of the very generous contributions from individuals, families, clubs, organisations, businesses, factories and companies on an ongoing basis, but we now need our wider community's help,' she said.

New Ross Community Hospital is unique as it is a registered charity managed by a voluntary board of directors and run 'by the people – for the people'

'We know many of you have already contributed and we thank you most sincerely for doing so.' added Frances.

- Elaine FURLONG