Focus on Salisbury
Salisbury District Hospital
Key facts
- 42 beds
- 12 Wheelchair Skills sessions per year
Michael – Outreach and Support Coordinator
How did you first get involved with Back Up?
When I had my injury Back Up hadn’t started running the wheelchair skills services. I met someone who came into the hospital I was at to give a talk. After I was discharged I went on a multi activity course in the Lake District where I improved and learnt more wheelchair skills which gave me the confidence to venture out further on my own when I got home and try other activities.
What is your current role?
I work as an Outreach & Support Coordinator which involves working and liaising with spinal centre staff at Belfast, Salisbury, Southport and Stanmore spinal cord injury centres to run wheelchair skills and wheelchair skills extra sessions. I will stay in touch with the patients I have met after their discharge, offering support, information and signposting to other charities organisations when needed.
What is your proudest achievement at this centre?
I have built a good relationship with my main contacts at Salisbury, so they are very pro Back Up and they encourage more of their patients to attend WCS and WCSE.
What is the biggest challenge or frustration facing you at this centre?
Due to cutbacks the staff are under a lot of pressure, which means it’s hard for them to spread their time to work more with external agencies like ourselves.
If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing, what would it be?
To have more presence in the centre to be able meet people so they know about our services, meaning we are supporting more people affected by SCI.
??? – Volunteer Wheelchair Skills Trainer
How did you get involved with Back Up?
I was encouraged to go on a water skiing course a year after my accident in 1990. From that day I have never looked back! It completely changed my (and my friends and families) attitude to my disability. Can do rather than cannot became my focus!
What is your current role?
Wheelchair skills trainer, group leader, mentor, schools inclusion advocate.
What is your proudest achievement at this centre?
There are many! Seeing individuals grow in confidence, in just one short session, is always a massive boost. Being part of the unit’s first Wheelchair extra sessions was very rewarding.
What is the biggest challenge or frustration facing you at this centre?
Not being able to include every patient in the sessions! Often because of medical “sign offs” and not being able to take power chair users out of the hospital grounds.
If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing, what would it be?
If I could wave a magic wand there would be no need for our services! Realistically I would love to involve every person on the unit. Peer lead training for all. Manual chair users, power chair users, walkers. Family and friends could learn a great deal as well by being involved.
