Orthopaedic Mattress

[OlafJensen]

Hi folks, I,m not sure if this is the right place for this post. Anyway, I have a question,

I have severe back problems and due to this I am more or less bed bound. I have seen a Neurologist who recommended that I have an Orthopaedic mattress, this is in writing btw.

I therefore asked my GP if I can get this on prescription, he had no idea.

Has anyone on here any advice as to how to go about this, if it is at all possible?

[rebel11]

Here's some info:- http://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/Healthcosts/pages/Prescriptioncosts.aspx

 

Also contact organizations related to your illness, they may have schemes in place. e.g.

 

http://www.nos.org.uk/

Edited June 4, 2014 by Conniff
Oops, clicked button on wrong post

[Conniff]

I certainly hope there is some help out there for you, ours cost us over £700.

 

 

If you do find what you are looking for, can you come back here and update your thread with it please.

[OlafJensen]

Thanks all. Yes I will update this thread if I get any joy

[stu007]

Another angle for you since you have a letter from the hospital recommending this is to contact you local councils social work dept to speak to the Occupational Therapy Department.

 

Explain about the letter first and how you go about this and if necessary request an occupational therapy assessment and when they come out give then a copy of the letter.

[OlafJensen]

Thanks. I contacted to council Adult Care Services. They told me to go to the District Nurse! I,ll try the nurse first on Monday and see what she says.

[stevemLS]

The NHS generally only provide pressure relieving mattresses, if you simply require a firm mattress you would be expected to provide it for yourself.

[OlafJensen]

Where you have that information from please? It is the NHS consultant saying that I should be given one.

[OlafJensen]

Anyway, here is an update. I contacted the Adult Carer Service at the local council. They said I need to go through the District Nurse. I contacted this Lady. The Nurse tried for a week to investigate where I can get hold of one. She has just called me and said that the NHS does not supply them. So what this consultant is on about I do not know.

[stevemLS]

I work in the NHS and am a member of a panel that considers these requests.

[OlafJensen]

So can you point me in the right direction Steve?

[stevemLS]

Olaf - to the best of my knowledge, neither the NHS nor social services will supply you with an ordinary domestic orthopeadic mattress. It is the same type of scenario that I was once recommended to put a couple of house bricks under the head end of my bed, to help acid reflux - the NHS did not supply the bricks.

 

Unless you qualify for help from any charity, I think you will have to buy your own.

 

Sorry this isn't what you want to hear.