Wheelshare service rolls out 1,000 rentals in six months at Ulster Hospital
A convenient self-service wheelchair scheme is helping patients and visitors move around the Ulster Hospital site more easily, with 1,000 rentals recorded in just six months since it was introduced with more than a quarter of users returning to hire a wheelchair again.
The Wheelshare service, provides free access to wheelchairs through secure self-service docking stations located at the main hospital entrance, multi-storey car park and Critical Care and Urgent Care building entrance.
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year, the service offers greater flexibility for patients and visitors who need assistance getting around the hospital, including those arriving early in the morning or later in the evening.
The system is designed to be straightforward, with no need to register, download an app or wait for assistance. Users simply swipe a bank or credit card at the docking station to release a wheelchair, helping to ensure it is returned safely.
There is no charge for the first four hours of use. If a wheelchair is needed for longer, users can return it and take out another wheelchair to access a further four hours free of charge. A bank or credit card is used to help secure the return of the wheelchair and users are not charged when it is returned within the four-hour period.
South Eastern Trust, Lead Chaplain Rev Don Gamble said, “We are delighted to have reached 1,000 rentals in the first six months of the Wheelshare service. It has been a real success and we are particularly pleased that 27% of people who rented a wheelchair have returned to use the service again.
“People have told us how simple and easy the system is to use and how much they appreciate being able to access a wheelchair free of charge for four hours. If someone needs a wheelchair for longer, they can simply return it and take out another one to receive a further four hours free. They can repeat this as often as they need to, making the service flexible and accessible for everyone.
“We have had people using the service as early as 5am and as late as 10pm. They can also collect a wheelchair from one docking station and return it to another, for example, taking one from the multi-storey car park or Critical Care entrance and returning it to the main hospital entrance. This flexibility is working really well for people.”
South Eastern Trust, Assistant Director of Support Services, Jeff Thompson added: “Reaching 1,000 rentals in just six months is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates how a simple, practical innovation can make a real difference to the experience of patients and visitors.
“By providing access to wheelchairs around the clock, we are helping people move around the hospital site more easily and independently, while removing the need to wait for assistance or make arrangements in advance.
“The positive feedback and the number of people returning to use the service are very encouraging.
"We will continue to look at practical ways to improve accessibility and make every visit to our hospitals as straightforward and comfortable as possible.”