Para-athlete Darren Belling says he was “stranded” in hospital after an ambulance refused to take his wheelchair.
Key points:
- Darren Belling was told it was against policy to take his wheelchair in an ambulance
- Hospital staff instead sent the wheelchair separately in a taxi
- Belling says being separated from his wheelchair is like “cutting off my legs”
The 57-year-old, who helped take Australia to its first Para-ice hockey World Championships in 2018, had admitted himself to Sunshine Coast University Hospital last week after experiencing complications from spinal surgery.
But four days later when he was discharged, he was told taking his wheelchair onboard an ambulance was against policy.
“I’ve been in the wheelchair 39 years, and that’s the first time I’ve been refused to take my wheelchair,” Mr Belling, who is a quadriplegic, said.
“You are basically cutting my legs off if you take me without my wheelchair.”
The Sunshine Coast man, who had arrived in an ambulance with his wheelchair, said hospital staff decided to send his chair home separately.
“The taxi guy came, and they took my chair, and it was still three hours before the ambulance came and got me,” Mr Belling said.
“That literally left me stranded.”
His wheelchair was then left in front of his house, under the carport, for hours until he arrived.
Mr Belling said his wheelchair is “100 per cent” of his mobility.
“You are completely incapacitated if they take your wheelchair,” he said.
“It’s the one thing that takes away your stress of actually having a disability.”
He said Queensland Ambulance Services had since contacted him to discuss solutions moving forward.
A Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) spokesperson confirmed it had spoken with the patient about what happened.
“We understand people have different needs and requirements, and we work closely with patients to accommodate these during transport, both in an emergency and planned travel to or from care,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said QAS works with patients and hospitals to ensure the transport of personal items that cannot be taken on ambulances “due to the safety of both the patient and our staff members”.
It can be up to the discretion of the ambulance driver whether personal items, such as wheelchairs and assistance animals, can be taken on board an ambulance.
‘Not uncommon’ to send mobility aids separately
A Sunshine Coast Health spokesperson said it could not comment on the incident due to privacy concerns.
But said it was not uncommon for its health services to “support and fund” alternative transport for mobility aids, including wheelchairs, that aren’t able to travel in an ambulance.
Mr Belling hopes to have further conversations with Queensland Ambulance Services about finding a solution and changing the policy around transporting with wheelchairs.
“There are a lot of people with disabilities using the ambulance service,” he said.