Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Shopmobility are wheely generous
Team donate wheelchairs to NHS
North Lanarkshire’s Town Centre Activities team have kindly donated six selfpropelled wheelchairs to the NHS.
The chairs, from Coatbridge’s Shopmobility base, were initially provided for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, before being passed to Monklands to help people access local amenities.
Due to the number of electrical scooters at Shopmobility’s premises, the wheelchairs have now been gifted to NHS Lanarkshire.
NHS administrators Moira Agnew and Kelly Meldrum believe the chairs will be put to good use at several health centres and said: “Our health centre in Airdrie will benefit from extra wheelchairs, as the corridors are huge and sometimes more than one is required at the same time.
“These would help transport patients with mobility problems and can also be used in other localities for emergency situations.”
Shopmobility have 15 scooters at their Coatbridge depot and provide freedom for those with restricted mobility.
Jean Russell, who works at the Coatbridge office, said: “We’ve been here for nearly 16 years now. We don’t just give out scooters to people though, it’s more than that.
“We train them up, phone them taxis, help with their shopping, offer them tea or coffee and listen to their problems.
“That’s one of the best things about working here, it’s very social and you can build good relationships.”
Jean continued: “We had a bank of six wheelchairs just sitting here.
“It was wasteful as they can be put to better use elsewhere. Scooters are the popular choice around here.
“The NHS is a good choice because it can help with transport purposes at hospitals.” Graham Good, business manager at Town Centre Activities, added: “This is all about helping the less able. We have a large stockpile and we are able to give people their freedom for a while. That’s what people want and it’s a great service.”
Regular customer Andy McGinty said: “I’ve been using Shopmobility for a couple of years and it’s magic.
“The staff are cracking and it allows me to get out and about.”