Tamar Rehabilitation Engineering Services Ltd.

18/11/2025

17/10/2025

Rehab Engineering aka “thinking on your feet”
When the visit for an urgent post-op Matrix adjustment turns into one of those silent looks of horror exchanged between clinicians (Katya Tune) when you both realise at the same time “that aint going to work!”
What should have been a (simple) reduction of seat depth turns into a complete strip-down, reshape and reframe of an old Matrix seat with seized screws and framing against the arm supports. Tricky enough in a workshop with spare parts but all done in the hospital car park with a liberal sprinkling of expletives and the added bonus of various spectators stopping by to enjoy the show.
Not my prettiest work but at least the client can go home now (as did we 10 hours after we’d set off!).

13/10/2025

Routine or scheduled reviews are often seen as an unnecessary expense. NHS Commissioners have removed them from most NHS wheelchair & maintenance contracts and even in the independent sector there can be a general reluctance due to cost or the assumption that "someone" will notice if anything goes wrong.
It doesn't matter how expensive the equipment is, if it's regularly used, is adjustable and regularly dismantled for transportation etc. things can move or become loose.
When the correct positioning of equipment is fundamental to postural support and function, any misalignment can be detrimental.
When it gets to the point where components drop off all together (as in this case) things can easily become dangerous very quickly.
Routine reviews shouldn't be an afterthought - not only could things like this be prevented, or at the very least caught sooner, but it also gives the opportunity to make appropriate adjustments (in this case the seat depth was also too short due to growth) or make recommendations for prescription changes in a timely manner.

09/08/2025

It's taken me a long time to feel okay about not working "full time".
I'm the first to admit it's not been through choice and it does make you question yourself frequently but its just how it's turned out to be.
After a very productive day on Thursday working collaboratively with my local wheelchair service for a client who needed pressure mapping and some reasonably extensive Matrix adjustments, I found myself (as is quite often the case) with another empty work diary day.
I guess it could be looked at as a wasted day, and I have certainly been guilty of feeling like this on many occasions (especially when business outgoings once again exceed income) but in hindsight it was far from it.
All I needed to do was take a lesson from these snoozy ponies, which I stumbled upon while walking the dog - find a nice spot, switch off and just enjoy my surroundings!

31/07/2025

I’m sure this will just be another evidence gathering project that will quietly slip from the “in-tray” to the waste bin but I guess we’ve got to keep chipping away in the hope that we see positive change at some point!
There’s a relatively short window to submit comments (as usual) but maybe between us we can flood their inbox to highlight just how widespread these issues are.

The APPG for Access to Disability Equipment has launched its first inquiry to explore the barriers preventing disabled people from accessing the medical equipment they need.