A survey was carried out into the processes developed for dealing with wheelchair referrals in England following the devolution of the wheelchair service to the NHS. It was found that a large number of therapists were employed within wheelchair services, over two-thirds of them on a part-time basis. The survey identified the declining role of doctors in making wheelchair referrals, and highlighted discrepancies in the level of assessment offered, the provision to temporary users and the residency criteria.
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