At the end of July, the municipality of Lund issued a press release stating that there is a great shortage of wheelchairs in the municipality.
- We have received this information from the suppliers.
We have an agreement with Sodexo.
They have been told that it is not possible to order new wheelchairs.
Raw materials and containers in China are out of stock.
It may be an effect of pandmein, but we do not know, says Ann Boutis.
Prioritize those with the greatest need
The shortage is so great that the assistive technology unit in Lund now only prioritises patients and users who have the greatest need for a wheelchair.
This means that wheelchairs are only prescribed for those who need them to cope with relocations in their home.
- Prio is, for example, the use in hospitals.
The risk is that you have to wait if you are judged to need, for example, an outdoor wheelchair, says Ann Boutis.
According to Ann Boutis, there are several municipalities in Skåne with the same supplier that do not prescribe certain types of wheelchairs at present.
Among others Eslöv, Lomma and Kävlinge.
Lund residents are asked to return wheelchairs
Lund residents who previously received a wheelchair that is no longer used are now encouraged to return it to the municipality's assistive technology unit.
- If someone has been prescribed a wheelchair and does not use it, it would be helpful to give it to the assistive technology unit.
All wheelchairs are worth their weight in gold, says Ann Boutis.
At present, it is unclear how long the shortage will last.
- Maybe it will be resolved by mid-August.
If not, it will probably be difficult in the autumn, says Ann Boutis.