HEREFORDSHIRE Primary Care Trust spends nearly £222,000 a year on a wheelchair service in the county.

This covers about 3,500 users and includes the chairs, salaries, cushions and other costs.

Because of the limited budget the trust does expect potential users to meet certain criteria.

If a person can move about at home he or she is not provided with a wheelchair so they can go outside.

The trust was responding to a letter in the Hereford Times from Elizabeth Sykes, of Holmer, whose father-in-law, aged 97, did not qualify for a wheelchair so he could go outside.

It was a ludicrous situation, said Mrs Sykes. Because he had 24-hour care there was always someone to help him move around the houses - they needed a wheelchair to take him out and improve his quality of life.

Since her letter, Mrs Sykes has had offers of help from Hereford Times readers and the Royal British Legion and has been lent a chair.

She thanked those who responded and said her father-in-law could now go out on visits.

But she thought if there were 3,500 users more money should be allocated to help the service.

"My father-in-law has never asked for anything but, at the age of 97 he is surely entitled to some help. He just wantsp his independence,'' she said.

Mrs Sykes was also critical about the length of time, and the number of people it took to assess him to attend a day care centre.

They had been visited by three health workers assessing him for different things.

It could be done by one person, she said, cutting the waste in time and resources.

Mrs Sykes said her father-in-law was now attending a day centre one day a week and 'thoroughly enjoying' it.

In a statement the PCT admitted the county wheelchair service had been unsatisfactory. A new manager had been appointed and progress was being made.

Budget

Waiting times for assessments had returned to acceptable levels.

The total budget was £221,419 and the general criteria for a wheelchair was residence in Herefordshire, being registered with a county GP and being unable to walk at home.

"A complete review of the eligibility criteria is taking place, but it will take time and more resources to develop this, and therefore will not be forthcoming unless evidence is shown that it is justified, and needed,'' said the statement.