Stannah 420 Straight Stairlift with Solus Chair

This picture shows the Solus chair being used on a straight stairlift rail.

Stannah are currently the only stairlift manufacturer that make a chair that can be power swivelled in both directions. The two way powered swivel is available on the Solus and Sofia chairs only. The Solus and Sofia can only be purchased through Stannah direct and a select group of dealers such as Dolphin Stair Lifts.

Stannah Stair Lifts - Solus Curved Stairlift

The image below shows a Stannah 260 curved rail stairlift fitted with a Solus chair.



This is one of the new Stannah Stairlift chairs that have been developed in conjuction with the design agency Seymour Powell.

Stannah 420 Stairlift Powered Hinge

After visiting the Stannah factory this week, I thought it might be a good idea to post a few images of the new product ranges. The images below show a Stannah 420 stairlift with a powered folding hinge fitted.

A folding hinge is required on a stairlift when there is a door or open hallway at the bottom of the staircase.

Dolphin Lifts on YouTube

You can view product videos on the Dolphin Lifts YouTube page at http://www.youtube.com/dolphinlifts.

Acorn Mobility Acquire Bison Bede

Confirmation came this week that Acorn Mobility Services Limited have acquired Bison Bede Ltd. We have been told that Bison will continue to operate with its dealers as normal and that there are to be no changes to product names, lead times or availability.

Reconditioned Secondhand Stairlifts

Dolphin Stairlifts Surrey branch have a huge selection of reconditioned stairlifts in stock. Many of the lifts have unfortunately had very little use and with installed prices starting from £800 for a straight stairlift there are some great bargains to be had.

A reconditioned or secondhand stairlift is every bit as good as a brand new one and if you buy from Dolphin then you can enjoy the peace of mind of having your stairlift professionally installed by experts. A list of reconditioned stairlifts is available on their website.

Dolphin Stairlifts Kent move offices

Following the closure of the Independent Life Shop in Ashford, where Dolphin Stairlifts were displaying some equipment, Ian Elford of Dolphin Stairlifts in Kent would like to assure customers that Dolphin Stairlifts(Kent) is still in operation. Following their recent expansion, they have moved offices and warehousing facilities to Stanford, just off the M20 at junction 11.

Dolphin Stairlifts (Kent)
Kent Outside M25
Yew Tree Farm
Stone Street
Stanford
Ashford, Kent
TN25 6DH

Tel: 01303 813606
Fax: 01303 264409

New Dolphin Stairlifts Branch

Dolphin (Chester) have opened a new Branch in Ellesmere Port. This office will cover the areas of Cheshire, Wirral and North Wales. What was Dolphin (Chester) is now called Dolphin (Midshires) and will cover the areas of Staffordshire, Shropshire and Mid Wales. The details are as follows:

Dolphin (Midshires)
Rubicon Centre
Broad Ground Road
Lakeside
Redditch
B98 8YP
01527 404303

email - mikebligh@dolphinlifts.co.uk mikebligh@msn.com

Dolphin (Chester)Ltd
Stanlaw Abbey Business Centre
Dover Drive
Ellesmere Port
Cheshire
CH65 9BF
Tel: 0151 355 5550

email - mikebligh@dolphinlifts.co.uk mikebligh@msn.com

Stannah Stairlift Advert

One of the new adverts from Stannah Stairlifts. The campaign focuses on people's attitudes to having a stair lift.

Legal action stops stairlift customer being mislead

This article was published on the Mature Times website.

Stannah Stairlifts Limited and Stannah Lift Holdings Limited have recently reached out of court settlements with both County Stairlifts Limited and Platinum Rails Limited to stop either business from using Stannah’s trade marks to advertise, promote, sell or install second hand curved stairlifts re-fabricated from parts originally manufactured by Stannah.The settlements require that Stannah’s trade marks are permanently removed from the stairlift chair and motor unit.

This is a significant victory for Stannah who received a large number of complaints from people who bought second hand re-fabricated curved stairlifts from a variety of sources in the belief that Stannah was responsible for the quality and performance of the stairlift - which was not the case.

The design and installation process for re-fabricated products is radically different from the process that Stannah uses. Stannah did not approve these installations as they had no control over how well the re-fabricated assembly would perform. In fact re-fabricated products often fall well short of both British Standards and Stannah’s own quality standards.

Jon Stannah, the company's Managing Director, said: "We are delighted that we have reached these settlements as we have become increasingly concerned that consumers were being misled to think that they where buying an original Stannah stairlift, albeit secondhand, and that these stairlifts were approved by Stannah as they bore our trade marks. "When we install a curved stairlift it is a bespoke design for our customer’s staircase. Those being sold secondhand are ‘best fit’ from unwanted curved rails originally designed for a completely different staircase. In our view, these fall well short of our quality and performance standards."

City may give disabled people more help with adapting their homes

An article from the Yorkshire Post.

By Andrew Robinson

Leeds Council is proposing to give disabled people more freedom with a £2m boost to help them live independently in their own homes.

Its Executive Board is to consider giving an extra £2m to assist disabled Leeds home-owners meet the cost of necessary modifications to their houses.This would almost double the present budget to £4.5m.Private homeowners and tenants with disabled members of their household are eligible for grants up to £25,000 to adapt their homes to improve access to and around the home. These adaptations can range from external ramps to special showers, stair lifts and even extensions.

The council's own agency offers applicants help in designing and drawing up the works schedule, securing any necessary approvals and allocating and supervising the work undertaken by nominated contractors.In the last two years the amount spent in assisting Leeds residents has increased from £2.17m in 2004-5 to £3.75m at the end of March. Based on the number of applications currently being dealt with, the budget for 2007-8 has risen to £4.5m.

The level of Government support for 2007-8 will be £1.569m – equivalent to 35 per cent – leaving the council to find almost £3m. The council estimates that the cost of helping disabled residents in 2008-9 could reach £6m and has submitted an advance bid, asking the Government to meet its 60 per cent contributionFor information and help on disabled facilities grants call the Adaptations Agency on 0113 3957147 or email hsg.adaptation.services.help.desk@leeds.gov.uk

'Too fat' for a stairlift

The following article appeared in the Manchester Evening News.

Bethan Dorsett 25/ 7/2007

A DISABLED pensioner can't have a stairlift in her home - because she is 'too fat'.Sylvia Hocking, who suffers badly with arthritis, applied to Rochdale council for the lift because she finds it difficult to climb the stairs of her home in Kirkholt. But the 66-year-old gran of two was told by the adult care service that, because she weighs 24st, she has reached the maximum weight limit for a stairlift.

Her request will be reviewed in three months, but only if she loses weight. Mrs Hocking claims she has shed over two stone since she went on a crash diet, but needs urgent help from the council. She said: "I feel abandoned. I have to use a chemical toilet in the kitchen because I can't get up and down the stairs due to pain in my knees and right ankle. "If there comes a time when I lose enough weight and don't need the lift any more then they can take it out, but at the moment I desperately need it." I have severe breathing problems and my doctor says I am on the verge of heart failure because of my weight." It might be months before I lose enough weight to get about the house.

"I am already on a diet and I plan to lose 10st." Mrs Hocking says she was initially informed she was eligible for a stairlift but has now been told her weight is on the borderline for the maximum it can take. A letter from a council occupational therapist said it had been decided to allow her 'time to achieve her goal of weight reduction'.The letter continued: "Your GP has informed us that much of your current mobility problems are due to your weight. "The projected weight loss should significantly increase your mobility." Peta Douglass, for the adult care service, said: "When we originally assessed Mrs Hocking, we had to rule out the option of a stairlift. "The company which provided the lift said that it could not guarantee her safety because of her weight." We had considered other options, but Mrs Hocking said she was on a diet and we agreed to contact her in a few weeks when, potentially, she would have lost weight." We will now arrange to see Mrs Hocking, when we will consider whether a stairlift is the best option to safely meet her needs."

Six year old dies in tragic stairlift accident

This terrible story highlights the importance of using professionals when having a stairlift installed. Although it may cost a little more, an experienced stairlift engineer would never make this type of mistake when installing a stairlift. Certain manufacturers are encouraging the sale of self-install stairlifts, particularly in the US, in my opinion it is just not worth the risk.


SIX-year-old dies in tragic stairlift accident - inquest
Oliver Mapp

A SIX-YEAR-OLD Bolton-le-Sands boy killed in a stairlift accident at his great-grandmother's home would not have died if it was correctly installed, an inquest heard.

Oliver Mapp was playing on the lift on January 28 when he fell and his head became trapped between its footplate and the stair tread. The lift continued to rise up the stairs and Oliver's grandad Robert, who struggled to save him, was unable to stop it, he told Tuesday's inquest.

His grandparents Robert and Pauline had been taking him to visit his great-grandmother Eileen Meeson at her home in Oakengates, Telford, to wish her happy birthday. Michael Gwynne, Telford and Wrekin coroner, recorded a verdict of accidental death.

James Rennie, a consultant forensic engineer, told the court that some safety devices in the lift were not working correctly. Oliver's uncle Stefan Wood, from Telford, told how he had moved the lift from a house without the help of a professional or a manual. Mr Rennie said, because it was installed on the right side of the stairs rather than the left as it had been previously, its obstruction contactor trips were not working. This meant that when Oliver's head was pressing against the trips it would not reverse and free him.

Coroner Mr Gwynne said: "It was those safety devices which failed so far as Oliver was concerned. If they had been in place and working we wouldn't be here today." Mr Rennie also told the inquest children should not be allowed to play on stairlifts. "Stairlifts should be installed by somebody who knows what they are doing," he said. Doctor Edmund Tapp, consultant pathologist, told the inquest Oliver had become unconscious, gone into cardiac arrest and died immediately, although he was not recorded dead until later in hospital.

His cause of death was a head injury which had fractured his skull. Oliver's dad Darren, a retained firefighter at Bolton-le-Sands fire station, and mum Louise, a nurse, travelled down to Shropshire after the accident and were being comforted by other family members in the Telford area. Louise told the inquest he was a "happy and lovely boy". Oliver was a pupil of Bolton-le-Sands CE Primary School.

MCSC Stair lifts

From the Strabane Chronicle.

Mc Gill calls on Minister to ensue funding is released for stair lift adaptations

West Tyrone Sinn Fein MLA Claire Mc Gill has asked the Minister of Health Minister Michael Mc Gimpsey to intervene to ensure that 16 stair lift adaptations in the former Sperrin Lakeland Trust area can proceed.

She says,

"There are currently 16 people in the former Sperrin Lakeland Trust area awaiting stair lift adaptations to their homes. These installations have been fully assessed and approved by the Occupational Therapists and the delay in the release of funding to allow the necessary work to proceed is causing great hardship for those awaiting these essential disability adaptations.

"The delay in the release of funding has meant that many of those awaiting the adaptations have been totally confined to the downstairs area of their homes for months now and are being forced to sleep in their living rooms.

I have therefore asked Health Minister Michael Mc Gimpsey to intervene to ensure that the necessary funding for these stair lift adaptations is released as a matter of urgency.

Stairlift fraudster jailed for conning elderly

A stairlift fraudster from Plymouth has been jailed for 14 months after he admitted conning elderly people out of thousands of pounds.Nigel Warren Roach posed as a stairlift repairer and falsely advised that products were irreparable, getting customers to order expensive and unnecessary replacements which were then not supplied, the court heard.

The court was told that the 35-year-old, from Peverell, was brought to the attention of trading standards in June 2005 when a complaint was made by an elderly couple who had been deprived of their savings and left stranded without access to all floors in their home.

He was investigated by Devon County Council and spokesman Brian Berman said Roach "cynically set out to deceive the elderly and disabled"."He took large sums of money from people for stairlifts and then didn't supply them," he said."In some cases he also took away their existing stairlift leaving them with no means of accessing the first floor of their homes."This case sends a clear warning signal to rogue traders across the region that this type of dishonest practice will not be tolerated."

Some 13 offences related to breaches of the Theft Act, Trade Descriptions Act, Consumer Protection Act, Fair Trading Act and Forgery and Counterfeiting Act. In total, Roach tricked customers out of £4,000.At Plymouth Crown Court, Judge Francis Gilbert QC also gave the police permission to investigate him under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Guardian Capital Letters

Taken from the Capital Letters section of the Guardian newspaper website.

Fighting Churchills on the breaches of promise

My wife died, unexpectedly, last November. Just before that happened, I had sent a £295 annual maintenance fee to Churchills Stairlifts which had supplied and fitted the second-hand chairlift she used. We paid £2,009 for it 12 months previously.

After her death, I had no use for the lift - I very much wanted it out. And I had no use for the 2006-07 maintenance contract, which had not started at the time she last used it.

We had been promised a £450 guaranteed buyback and the removal of the stairlift. When I told Churchills what had happened, I was told I would get a maintenance plan refund. But nothing at all has happened. What is going on?

DD Middlesex

You bought the second-hand and very over-priced lift from Churchills Stairlifts PLC, which was run by Craig James Paterson. This firm went into liquidation two months later, ending its £495 buyback. This would have been reduced anyway by the very small print £295 removal fee, leaving £200 - which was built into the price you paid in the first place.

Paterson has been a director of nine dissolved or liquidated companies including Stairlift Rentals, Air Quality, Paterson Security Services and Hi-Security.

When Churchills Stairlifts PLC went bust, the liquidators sold some of the assets (but not the company Aston Martin and helicopter) to an unconnected company, Churchill's Stairlifts UK, run by accountant Robert Kane and ultimately part of a Dutch group.

Mr Kane told Capital Letters that he is working to restore the firm's reputation with a mix of better service and lower cost appliances. He will remove your unwanted stairlift and return your maintenance fee as a goodwill gesture.

Confusion over VAT cuts for aged

The following article concerns changes in the recent budget and confusion over what they actually mean. Budget 2007.

Gordon Brown's promise to help "grandfathers and grandmothers living with their sons and daughters" was met with scepticism by the very industry it should benefit most.

In last week's Budget the Chancellor announced that VAT on home alterations will be cut from 17.5pc to 5pc for pensioners.

But industry executives were confused to learn that the home alterations would include the installation of stair-lifts, bath lifts and similar types of equipment, as these are already zero-rated for the chronically sick and disabled.

Jon Stannah, managing director of Stannah Group, said: "Almost all people that buy a stair-lift are chronically sick or disabled. These are long-term problems people have in their later years, so it will have little impact on our business. This is why I'm a bit sceptical.

"Brown needs to clarify what the VAT changes are for these home adaptations and the scope of the changes. There is a lot of confusion in the industry about this announcement."

The move was welcomed by the broader industry, which is mainly made up of privately-owned small and medium sized enterprises. Director general of the British Healthcare Trades Association, Ray Hodgkinson, said: "Having products and services more readily available with that sort of facility in the VAT makes it easier for people to buy things for themselves. It will certainly help businesses sell products to people."

Cost of Stairlifts set to fall

Article from This is Lancashire website

THE cost of installing stairlifts in Kirklees is set to fall following the negotiation of a new contract by the council's Housing and Health Unit.

It will reduce the cost of fitting single flight stairlifts in disabled people's homes by £145 each.

In 2005-6 the Housing and Health Unit arranged for 141 single flight stairlifts to be installed in the homes of Kirklees residents. The new contract could mean sizeable savings for the council.

At the same time, the maintenance agreement for the stairlifts has been awarded to Kirklees Building Services, leading to an average saving of £87 per stairlift each year on the present cost.

Clr Khizar Iqbal, who has housing responsibility on the Kirklees Council Cabinet, said: "Stairlifts help disabled people to retain their independence. It's good news that we can provide the same quality of service and save money."

Stair Lift Article

The following stair lift article appeared in the Blackburn Citizen

Stair Lift Plea For Arthritic Wife, 75

Freelift Curved Stairlifts

Below are the order deadlines for curved stairlifts required before Christmas:

Deadline for placing new orders - 5.00pm on Tuesday, 28 November 2006, with a 'clean' FMP, whereby drawing is signed off by 3.00pm on Tuesday, 5 December 2006.

These orders will be available from Freelift prior to Christmas.

TNT will make their normal collections on Friday 22nd December, however, only certain postcodes will receive deliveries on Saturday, 23 December.

TNT will operate as normal on 27/28/29 December 2006.

Christmas Holiday Period: Freelift offices will be closed from 5.00pm on 22 December to 26 December inclusive, re-opening at 8.30am on Wednesday 27 December. They will be closed for New Year's Day, and open as usual from Tuesday, 2 January 2007.

Stannah 420 straight stairlift launched

Stannah have announced the launch of the 420 straight stairlift. The stairlift is available for us to order as of the 13th November.

The 420 straight stairlift is a direct replacement for the 400. The main difference being that the trailing cable/trolley weight has been removed and replaced with a constant charging system. In addition the 420 will no longer use hard-wired controls but will instead use the new style infrared remote controls.

Development of the Stannah 420 automatic hinge is still ongoing, in the meantime Stannah will continue to sell the 400 hinge using the trailing cable and trolley weight.

Bison release Christmas stairlift dates

Bison Bede Limited, the stairlift manufacturers, have released the last dates for orders guaranteeing delivery for Christmas 2006. They are as follows:

Curved Lifts - Orders received by 9.00 am on the 18th December

Straight Lifts - Orders received by 20th December

Bathlifts - Orders received by 21st December


The last date for shipment of Stairlifts & Bathlift orders for delivery before Christmas will be Tuesday 21st December.

Bison have stressed that these dates are subject to the limitations of their manufacturing capacity but if they can keep close to these dates then the delivery times are really quite impressive. We shall wait and see how accurate their claims prove to be.

Find out more about Bison Stairlifts.

Are stairlift prices too high?

Disability Now have written an article on the price of stairlifts and I was asked a few questions over the phone by one of their journalists. Whilst I agree with many of the points raised I would like to clarify one of the quotes attributed to me.

The article quotes me as saying that it costs only £300 or £400 for one of the manufacturers that supply us to make a stairlift. This price is purely based on the cost of the materials used to build a budget stairlift. It does not include the huge cost of running a factory in the UK such as wages, machinery, packaging and transportation not to mention the costs of running offices and a fleet of vehicles. The true cost of manufacturing a budget stairlift is therefore far far higher than £400. It is probably my fault for not making this clearer at the time but I feel that its only fair to the manufacturers that I make the point.

I should also like to make the distinction between the cost of manufacturing a budget stairlift to the cost of making a stairlift at the higher end of the market. For example Stannah Stair Lifts feature many more component parts when compared to a simple budget stairlift. Their emphasis on safety and producing highly engineered, quality products means that their costs will be higher still. This is reflected in the price to the end user.

I would agree with the comments of Jon Stannah, MD of Stannah Stairlifts who says

"We feel that £2,000 for a highly complex technological piece of equipment with an aftercare service which is second to none is actually relatively good value for money."

£2,000 for a straight Stannah stairlift is definitely good value for money. The problem is that some companies are trying to sell lifts at prices far higher than this.

In my opinion one of the main causes of high prices in the private market is the parlous state of the local authority market. It has become a profitless market in many respects. With dozens of companies vying for work, the prices charged to local authorities have plummeted and this has led to some companies hiking their charges to private buyers. It is a worrying trend and until there is consolidation in the industry it is not a trend that will be bucked soon.

Until then it is vital that private buyers do as much research as possible to ensure that they get a good deal. It is also worth pointing out that most companies are reputable and aren't con artists and with a little care taken before placing your order you can get a fantastic deal on a stairlift that may just change your life.

Stairlift worries

This article appeared in the Disability Now magazine and highlights a problem I mentioned in a previous post. If you buy a Stannah 260, make sure the people that sell it to you are Stannah authorised dealers.

A disabled man has been left without a maintenance contract for his reconditioned stairlift, after it was discovered the stair rail had been welded together using parts of other second-hand rails.

Andrew Dunnington is considering legal action against the maintenance company, Stannah Lift Services (SLS), which took nearly five years to spot the alleged problem.

But Stannah claims the case highlights national concerns about some reconditioned stairlifts sold by firms.

Dunnington, who has a spinal injury, bought the reconditioned Stannah stairlift for £5,450 in 1994 from Multicare, which installed it on the curved staircase at his home in Stockport, Cheshire.

Three years later, Dunning-ton signed a contract with SLS to carry out regular maintenance.

But it wasn't until this February that SLS discovered the stair rail had been welded together from various second-hand rails, and told Dunnington it would no longer honour the contract.

Jon Stannah, managing director of SLS, said the reconditoned rail was "made to look extremely convincing, like a new Stannah rail".

"More of these re-welded products are emerging all the time and are a real concern," he said. "We do not believe you can recondition a [curved] rail safely."

But Martin Baldwin, managing director of Multicare, said: "Mr Dunnington had eight years of use out of it."

He added: "The integrity of a reconditioned curve is as good if not better than one Stannah would make. To all intents and purposes, it is a new track. There are a lot of very satisfied customers."

David Fazakerley, managing director of the Lift and Escalator Industry Association, said his organisation had "concerns" about the issue of reconditioned stair rails.

Stairlift gift spurned

This article appeared in the Ilford Recorder

Larry's lift gift spurned

IT IS in perfect condition and cost £2,500 - but when Larry Cohen approached charities to ask if they wanted a second hand stairlift, they said they had no use for it. Larry, of Stradbroke Grove, Clayhall was amazed when he was told by Red Cross, Green Lane, Goodmayes that they could not recycle the stairlift. But nothing could prepare him for the shock after he phoned a local NHS number and was also told they couldn't use it either."I am sure there is someone out there who is in desperate need of a stairlift," said Larry. I am upset that I have got a stairlift that no one can benefit from. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with it."

Swivel Seat Stairlift Chairs

There are a number of options available to make using a stair lift easier. The most obvious option is to have a swivel seat stairlift. This means that you can swivel the chair when you reach the top of the stairs, so that you are facing away from the staircase when you get off. The swivel seat is usually operated by pressing down on a lever at the side of the chair. A swivel seat stairlift makes it much easier and safer to get on and off the lift. The stairlift chair then acts as a barrier so that if you were to lose balance you could not fall down the stairs. A swivel seat is a standard option on most stairlifts these days, so you shouldn't have to pay extra.

Powered swivel seats are also available if you are unable to swivel the seat yourself. Most of the powered swivel options are now automatic. When the chair reaches the top of the rail there will be a short delay and the seat will then swivel the user onto the landing. This option will add to the cost of the stairlift and the quality can vary according to the manufacturer. As always seek independent advice and get prices from more than one source. If a powered swivel isn't necessary at the moment but could be useful in the future make sure the seat can be adapted.

Disability Now Stair Lift Question

This month's Disability Now magazine has this question posed by a reader. One of the replies was written by me in response to a request from the sub editor. In my opinion all of the answers make good points and should be considered when buying a stair lift.

Last month's question

"I need a stairlift and I have looked at various makes, but they all seem similar. I'm so confused and can't decide which one to buy. Can anyone recommend a good product, preferably from a company with a good after sales service and that doesn't use pressure selling techniques?"

Your answers:

I can't really recommend any one company or stairlift product as everyone has different needs and requirements. The stairlift company should recommend the correct solution once these individual needs have been established at the survey stage.

Advice that we tell visitors to follow is quite simple. Look for the basic safety features that should really be standard on all stairlifts, i.e. Swivel seat, D.C. power, Call / send devices. These sort of features should be really be included in the basic cost of a new stairlift and probably in most reconditioned stairlifts that are available today, (unless they are very old).

Try and get at least two or three quotes, making it clear that when you arrange your appointment you will not be making a decision at this time.

If you live alone, ask a neighbour or relative to sit in with you during your stairlift survey. If any extra option or "add-ons" are required, ask why they are needed and how would it benefit you.

When deciding which stairlift to choose, it is not always wise to pick the cheapest quotation. You should also consider the after-sales service and the warranty package that the companies provide.

Most importantly Ð choose the correct solution for your needs.

Roy Williams Ð Stairlift Surveyor

Arc produces over 80 information booklets, including Stairlifts and Homelifts, which is an excellent guide to the issues which need to be considered when making such adaptations to the home. The booklet is written by medical professionals and includes useful contacts for people to get professional advice on grants for equipment or conversions.




Buying a stairlift is a daunting task these days. If you need a straight stairlift then (generally speaking) there is not a huge difference in quality.

Curved stairlifts on the other hand are far more complicated and some are definitely better than others.

I would be reluctant to recommend a particular stairlift without seeing your staircase and discussing your needs but I can offer you advice on how to make sure you get the right lift.

There are several manufacturers and many more independent companies that supply lifts from a range of manufacturers. There are good and bad companies among these. The industry has become very competitive over the last few years and there are a number of unscrupulous traders now operating - even some of the big manufacturers have a poor record for after-sales service and pushy salesman, as well as charging an exceedingly high price for their lifts.
However, with a few sensible precautions you can get a really good deal. It is a good idea to ask your local authority who they use - they will be happy to provide a list for you and this should ensure that you avoid rogue traders.

Try a manufacturer and a local independent supplier to get a comparison. Always get three or more quotes - this is time consuming and intrusive but is really the only way to feel confident that you are making the right choice.

Never agree to purchase the lift while the salesman is with you. A reputable company will respect your decision. If the salesman starts to pester you, or offers you a discount if you buy now, be very sceptical.

Ask about maintenance costs - will the company still look after your lift if you don't sign up to an expensive contract?

Find out if the company has engineers local to you and if they attend out-of-hours callouts. Also, if they are independent suppliers, check with the manufacturer to ensure that they are authorised dealers. If they aren't, they will not have access to spare parts and will not have had the correct training.

Once you have all of the quotations in writing take your time to make a decision and make sure that you read the small print. If you are confused about any detail, speak to someone from the company and ask for their response in writing if necessary. These precautions should ensure that you get a suitable lift at a fair price.

Good luck! Christian Dunnage Director Dolphin Mobility Ltd




Help with funding a stairlift is sometimes available from the local council through a Disabled Facilities Grant so, before proceeding with a private purchase, it's worthwhile contacting your council's social services department to find out whether they can help.

If you buy privately, engineers will need to do a home visit before they can give you a price for the stairlift and its installation.

They'll need to look at the staircase itself, and the immedediate environment, eg landings, overhangs and the siting of doorways and windows.

You should get quotes from at least three companies and compare them, find out what their guarantee covers, their servicing and maintenance costs, and how long it will take them to supply fit the stairlift..

Stairlifts will have subtle variations, but you need to be sure that you can transfer on and off the seat safely, that your legs are supported by the footplate and that you can manage the controls.

You may have a Disabled Living Centre near you where you can see and try out a range of stairlifts (addresses are on the Assist UK website)

You may prefer to buy from a company that belongs to a trade association such as the Lift and Escalator Industry Association or the British Healthcare Trades Association.

You can also contact your local home improvement agency and ask if they can give you any advice (addresses can be found on the Foundations website.

The DLF has a factsheet on their website on choosing equipment to get up and down stairs, that includes advice on stairlifts.

Lucy Andrews

Finally...a replacement for the stairlift that was faulty for TWO YEARS

I found this stairlift article on the Leeds Today website after it had appeared in the Yorkshire Evening Post.

BY ALISON BELLAMY

A MULTIPLE sclerosis sufferer had to be carried up and down stairs at her council home by her husband for two years after her stairlift kept breaking down. But today Paula and Dave Whitaker were celebrating after Leeds City Council bosses promised to replace the faulty appliance after the YEP stepped in.

Mrs Whitaker, 55, who has suffered MS for two decades and uses a wheelchair, said: "The stairlift is downright dangerous. I am frightened when I am on it, just in case it goes. "It has been breaking down on average twice a week for two years, we have called the helpline endlessly and there has been a stream of repairman, continuously coming to mend it. "At one time there were sparks flying from under it. "It usually breaks once it reaches the top of the stairs, so my husband Dave has to carry me back down, once I have been to the bathroom. It is a real pain."

The grandmother from Wood Nook Drive, Tinshill, Cookridge, says she and Dave have lost track of how many times they have called the council repair helpline since they moved into the house in 2004. Dave, who is Paula's full-time carer, said: "Coping with MS is bad enough, we could do without this carry on a regular basis. "They keep saying that a part needs replacing, but the chair is ancient and like something from the 1970s."When the YEP visited Paula's home the stairlift broke down as the mum-of-three was trying to get upstairs.

A spokeswoman for Leeds North West Homes said: "The number of repairs required of this stair-lift over the past couple of years is certainly out of the ordinary, therefore we will be requesting a replacement stairlift be fitted." The spokesman could not say when the lift would be replaced. Mrs Whitaker added: "That is brilliant news. I can't say enough thankyous to the YEP. They simply have not been listening to me. Surely they must have realised that coming out twice a week to mend the lift does not make sense."

12 September 2006

Stairlift Plan Rejected

Artist Alex Murdin's plan to install a 30ft stairlift on a craggy hill on Dartmoor has been rejected by the park authority. Murdin, 35, wanted to test commitment to equal access.

Disappointment at stair lift buy-back

This stair lift article appeared in Newcastle's Sunday Sun.

How's your maths? Peter Heslop bought a stair lift for £1250 on the understanding he could sell it back when it was no longer needed.

Seven months later he moved to a bungalow and was offered - wait for it - the princely sum of £60.

No wonder Peter, of Spennymoor, County Durham, felt the need for some sabre rattling.
He said: "The company told me they had a buy- back policy, depending on the length of time I had the equipment. I expected more than £60 but accepted it as I had to be out of the house quickly."

I wondered how Peter Brown, of Sabre Stairlift Systems, Keighley, West Yorkshire, could justify his figures. He said: "The reason we offer a relatively small amount is we sell reconditioned machines for only £999. We have to remove the machine, renovate it, advertise it, and reinstall it."