Month wait for wheelchair costs Corina social life

The visits of consultants, engineers and officials can not be counted on two hands. The number of phone calls either. After a near fatal fire it took 214 days for a new ligrolstoel Corina Heijstek which was met.

Heijstek ran out after her third pregnancy handicapped by severe pelvic instability. She depends on a special wheelchair with a camera, mirror, heating mat in the back, adjustable headrest, and a customized brace to support her body.

The wheelchair which she received in 2013, was from unsafe and a fire hazard. Even mechanic supplier Medipoint did not cope with the "spaghetti mess" of loose electrical wires.,, The complaints were dismissed. ''

Fire
On April 5 flew her electric wheelchair while charging on fire next to the bed where she slept. ,, My husband was in the living room. I woke up because I could not breathe. The flames leaped over a meter high from my wheelchair. ''

Out of necessity, she fell out of bed and broke her hip. She was taken to hospital with smoke inhalation. ,, When I Medipoint called to report the fire, they said, send a letter. '

There are four companies involved in the supply of a new wheelchair.

Error error
The temporary spare wheel chair needs some return for repair. In June a pilot model for a new wheelchair, but wrong orthosis is in there. In late July, one day before her birthday, the wheelchair comes with a new orthosis. ,, She assured me that I needed for my holiday in France would have a new wheelchair. ''

But the wheelchair she receives thereafter, does not comply. ,, After nine days we returned home because of the pain, and I lay back in bed. "" The long wait is taking its toll. ,, I stiffened, had bedsores, was retaining fluid, received additional morphine for the pain and blood thinners against thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. ''

After 214 she gets in bed on November 4 the new wheelchair with the right brace. ,, I could finally with dog Django out. ''

The life of Heijstek, who was very active thanks to her wheelchair, was already that time still. She could not visiting schools to raise awareness and do not volunteer for advocacy Per Saldo. ,, I had no social life anymore. ''

Takeovers
Heijstek denounces the poor communication. The companies do not provide information on the progress and she feels that she does not take her seriously.

,, Through mergers and acquisitions, the market for devices dominated by a few big suppliers and producers who have contracts with municipalities and health insurers.Municipalities reimburse tools, designed to live independently at home and outside of the move (wheelchairs and stairlifts). Health insurers are all about tools for rehabilitation, nursing or care home (incontinence, ostomy, diabetes). In the awarding of municipal suppliers will sit deliberately low price to win the job, '' said Heijstek.

,, That money has to be recouped somewhere. So they make concessions on supplies, equipment and execution of things. ''

Discussion
In reaction to the Social Services Drechtsteden that providing tools usually done within the legal deadline, but it took too long to Heijstek. ,, Complex tools where multiple vendors are involved need more time, '' said a spokeswoman. ,, We have now taken steps to coordinate the delivery of this better. ''

For Heijstek is the last straw. ,, I want to create a public debate about the ever-crumbling care and power of the suppliers of tools. How far must we go? When more is cut in health care, you get accidents. ''

ad.nl/ Tonny van der Mee / © Victor van Breukelen