The new service, which marks AJM's 12th Integrated Care System area, will support almost 325,000 people, including more than 66,500 residents aged 65 and over, and close to 58,000 children under the age of 15.
Mat Pickering, chief executive at AJM Healthcare, said: ‘We are delighted to have been awarded the Dudley wheelchair service contract by NHS Black Country ICB and to welcome our first service users through the door.
‘A wheelchair that fits a person's needs is often what makes it possible for them to get to school or work, see friends and family and live independently. That is why our service is built around the whole person, not just their clinical referral.
‘We know that too many people across the country are still waiting too long for the equipment they rely on. Our focus in Dudley is on getting people assessed quickly, keeping their equipment in good working order, and working closely with local NHS partners so that no one is left waiting longer than they need to.'
The service, which commenced this month, provides a single point of access for adults and children registered with a Dudley GP who need a wheelchair for medical reasons.
Each service user is discussed by a multidisciplinary team and, where eligible, provided with a wheelchair alongside ongoing maintenance, repairs and reassessment as their needs change.
