Bristol Centre for Enablement

Overview

The Bristol Centre for Enablement (BCE) services include:

• Prosthetics including War Veteran Prosthetics
• Orthotics
• Wheelchairs & Special Seating
• Wheelchair Repair
• Electronic Assistive Technology Service
• Bristol Communication Aids Service
   

All the above services are now provided at the newly renovated, specially adapted Bristol Centre for Enablement (BCE) near Cribbs Causeway and are available to adults and children.

Orthotics Service

The Orthotics team at BCE provide services to North Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.

They run clinics at Bristol Centre for Enablement, Cossham Hospital, Clevedon Hospital, Weston General Hospital, Yate, Wells, Frome and special schools throughout the community. They also provide daily input to wards at Southmead Hospital.

Orthotics is the provision of external appliances which help support and control movement, for example, spinal braces, footwear and insoles.

 Referral forms

Guide for completing the Orthotics referral form, the referrer will need to get a password for the form, or get their own personalised form, before being able to open the Referral Form . Alternatively, the form is available in EMIS.

Orthotics referral form - Knee Brace

Prosthetic services

The Prosthetics Service, at BCE, sees patients who have had an amputation or who have been born with a limb deficiency. They assess the suitability of every patient for an artificial limb and then make and fit it within the clinic. They also provide on-going support and advice with any issues related to amputation or use of the prosthesis.

Limb prosthetics referral form

Veterans Prosthetics Panel

Veterans who have Service attributable limb loss can access funding for high-quality prosthetics. The Veterans Prosthetics Panel provides funding on a named veteran basis to NHS Disablement Service Centers (DSCs) to ensure that veterans who have Service-related limb loss can access high quality prosthetics regardless of which DSC they attend.

DSCs are required to make applications on behalf of veterans, which must be accompanied by proof of Service attributable limb loss. GPs can make referrals to DSC through the normal referral process.

Electronic Assistive Technology (EAT)

The Electronic Assistive Technology Service at BCE provides technology to users with physical impairment, and enables users to live more independently at home. The EAT Service provides:

Environmental Controls (EC): This enables a user to operate equipment within their environment using alternative technology.

Computer Access Equipment: Alternative equipment to access a computer when a user finds the standard interface difficult to operate.

Covering a wide geographical area, which includes Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Devon & Cornwall working with adults and children, the service provides:

• A specialist assessment
• Provision of equipment specific to the needs of the patient
• Equipment installation by in-house team
• Ongoing Technical Support
• Training

Provision Criteria:

• Profound and potentially complex physical disability, such that they are unable to operate standard controls for functioning independently in the home.
• Where simpler and cheaper non customised solutions are not suitable or appropriate.
• Cognitively and physically able to operate EC equipment consistently.
• Able to demonstrate sustained motivation to use the EC equipment.

Individuals requiring multiple control functions integrated into a single means of access as multiple devices are inappropriate (including also potential for integrating functions for communication, computer access and/or powered wheelchair control.

Please note the EAT Service does not provide Door openers, Window openers or Curtain openers. They also don’t provide the computers for the patient to access.

If your patient requires any of the above they can contact, or be referred to Social Care OT teams, or Access teams. Specialist Charities also provide some funding and support.

Please identify the local OT or team supporting the patient when referring.

Environmental controls referral form

Wheelchair services

Please see the specific Wheelchair Services page of Remedy

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Information provided through Remedy is continually updated so please be aware any printed copies may quickly become out of date.