Understanding Community Equipment Prescriptions

Community Equipment Prescriptions aim to deliver aids and equipment within communities so that access to these products is both easier and faster within areas local to the end user.

The prescriptions themselves cover many areas of equipment with the aim of helping people to live as independently as possible in their own homes. This adds up to enabling more choice and control over the types of equipment so promoting better overall health, self-esteem and independence.

What towns in Lancashire are covered?

In Lancashire Community Equipment prescriptions cover many towns, villages and localities so there are usually a good number of retailers who can fulfil the prescriptions.

We cover prescription deliveries to the areas of Lancashire listed below, however, postcode restrictions may apply to some areas. For other areas not listed,  it’s best to check first using the Accredited retailers in North Lancashire website here

Prescription delivery areas:

• Barnacre
• Bleasdale
• Cabus
• Catterall
• Claughton
• Forton
• Garstang
• Great Eccleston
• Hambleton
• Inskip
• Kirkland
• Myerscough
• Bilsborrow
• Nateby
• Nether Wyresdale
• Out Rawcliffe
• Pilling
• Preesall
• Stalmine
• Winmarleigh 

How does a Community Equipment Prescription work?

For example, a person requiring a Community Equipment Prescription in Preston will haven firstly been assessed by a care professional, who then in turn will have decided that a person is indeed entitled to receive a Community Equipment Prescription.

This entitlement to equipment for our example person, living in Preston in Lancashire, will mean that the equipment can be supplied completely free of charge. 

Either the person themselves, or a friend or relative will take the prescription to an accredited retailer, such as Mobility Smart, or any other accredited retailer and the equipment is ordered or if in stock can be supplied straight away. 

At Mobility Smart, this is much more likely to be the case, as we carry extensive stock within our own Garstang warehouse, where we have huge stock levels across popular equipment lines ensuring that for very many orders, lead times for supply, delivery, and if required, installation are as little as possible.

What if I need to upgrade equipment? 

The great thing about Community Equipment Prescriptions is that you are free to ‘top up’ a piece of equipment by paying the accredited retailer the difference between the standard price and the upgraded price.

This means for example, there may be a slightly better specification piece of equipment, say a wheelchair with more accessories or slightly more power, that you may wish to pay the extra to get the upgraded version, this is always an option with Community Equipment Prescriptions.

Does anybody show me how to use equipment?

Yes, your accredited retailer will be in a position to demonstrate the equipment to you ahead of you taking the prescription. At Mobility Smart for example, people come from all areas of Lancashire to visit the Garstang showroom where a dedicated space allows for instructions and demonstrations to take place. 

For some prescriptions, they will include a fitting service, again this is fully available at Mobility Smart in our Garstang showroom.

If you cannot make it to the store, then Mobility Smart can deliver to your home giving you additional piece of mind, and the delivery cost will be a part of the prescription so requiring no additional cost. 

Mobility Smart makes regular deliveries to all parts of Lancashire, with regular journeys to all towns and cities including Lancaster, Burnley, Morecambe, Wigan, Accrington, Blackpool, Blackpool and many other areas in Lancashire.

if you would like more information on Mobility Smart’s Community Equipment Prescriptions, please feel free to call us to speak to a friendly member of our team who can answer all of your questions on 0800 567 7222, or email us at info@mobilitysmart.co.uk