Wheelin

02/03/2026

Bore da pawb! We've added to the fleet. As trusted providers with the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust, we'll see you out on the roads in Swansea Bay NHS and Hywel Dda Health Board areas! 👀 Learn more about our fully wheelchair-accessible ♿️ Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service by phoning, emailing or WhatsApp-ing us🧑‍🦽 https://www.wheelin.co.uk/

06/12/2025

⚠️The vomiting and diarrhoea bug Norovirus is currently spreading in the community.

Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is the best way to protect yourself.

DO NOT VISIT anyone in hospital if you are unwell with vomiting and/or diarrhoea, or if you have been caring for someone who has it, even if the symptoms are mild or abating, for at least 72 hours.

This is because the virus spreads very easily and you will still be infectious for a while after your symptoms stop.

Below is some information and advice about Norovirus:

What is Norovirus?

It's a virus that is highly infectious type of gastro-enteritis that is easily passed on to others. Like any virus, antibiotics will not cure it.

What are the symptoms of Norovirus?

Norovirus symptoms include nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting. You may also have a temperature (fever), headache and aching arms and legs.

How long does Norovirus last?

Symptoms usually start within one or two days of being infected. They can usually be managed at home and should disappear after a few days although you will remain contagious for up to 72 hours after your last symptoms.

How do you catch Norovirus?

You can catch Norovirus from eating some food items such as shellfish or other food items prepared by some who is unwell. You can also become infected from having close contact with people who have the infection.

The virus particles will settle onto surfaces when people have symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea. If you don’t clean your hands after touching contaminated items or surfaces, and you then touch your eyes, nose or mouth, you may introduce the virus to yourself and you may become infected.

Protecting yourself and your family

Swansea Bay University Health Board infection prevention and control matron Joanne Walters is urging us to help control the spread of norovirus, which is very easily passed from person to person.

"The best way to protect yourself and your family is by washing your hands regularly with soap and water," she explained.

"Washing hands with soap and water is always the best way to clean your hands. Some alcohol gels and hand sanitisers are not effective against these viruses."

• This is especially the case after using the toilet;
• Before preparing food and drinks;
• After using a shopping trolley and other things that are commonly touched by other people;
• Before eating and drinking.

06/12/2025

Flu season is well and truly upon us.

Evidence shows that flu is currently circulating in our communities, with flu strains causing more severe illness than expected.

Early indicators point to a potentially earlier and/or a higher peak in flu cases and a longer duration of high levels of flu circulating this winter.

This will likely have a bigger impact on the most vulnerable populations, such as children, those with long term health conditions, and older adults.

So, it’s really important not to delay having your flu vaccination.

We are strongly urging everyone who is eligible to take up the offer of the flu vaccination to help prevent further spread and any risk of serious illnesses.

Missed your appointment or yet to be invited?

We will be running catch-up clinics across the Swansea Bay UHB area over the month of December at a number of locations.

These clinics will be for all eligible adults, and children aged 2 to 16 years old (who will be given the fluenz nasal spray).

If you’re unable to attend, your GP is still offering these vaccines to eligible adults and children, while your community pharmacy will offer the flu vaccine to eligible adults only.

More information here - https://sbuhb.nhs.wales/vaccinations-in-swansea-and-neath-port-talbot1/vaccine-information/flu-vaccinations-autumnwinter-2025/

26/11/2025

06/11/2025

We've upgraded our safety by increasing our visibility👀on the roads.

We've added high-visibility 3M chevrons to the rear of our vehicles. This significantly increases safety by enhancing vehicle visibility in all light and weather conditions, which helps prevent accidents.

The presence of vehicle chevron markings has been consistently highlighted across various sources as a crucial component of road safety for specific types of vehicles (e.g. highway maintenance and ambulance services vehicles). This is because it significantly reduces the likelihood of rear-end collisions, which are among the most common accidents on UK roads.

In providing our Non Emergency Patient Transport Service, it's important that we are highly visible to other road users as our vehicle is often slowing down, pulling over or stationary. Our enhanced visibility gives other road users more time to slow down, change lanes, and react appropriately.

We also have highly visible identifying signage on all sides of our vehicles, to let other road users as well as patients know that we are providing a patient transport ambulance service.

Our Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPTS) is fully wheelchair accessible ♿ Working in partnership with the Welsh Ambulance Service and also providing bespoke NEPTS throughout South Wales for those privately funding their transport. For more info on our service, you can phone us, email us or WhatsApp us🧑‍🦽

10/10/2025

Great info this month on falls prevention from Swansea Bay NHS. They outline a range of preventative measures and lifestyle adjustments that could help reduce falls and the organisations that can provide practical support, such as home adjustments and personal alarms.

“The impact of a fall on someone’s life can be huge and goes far beyond the physical implications,” explained Swansea Bay University Health Board’s Quality Improvement Lead for Falls Prevention, Eleri D’Arcy.

“It can impact people’s lives in many different ways and can result in a loss of confidence. This can cause people to withdraw from their daily activities, impacting their physical and mental health.
But falls are not an inevitable part of ageing and there are many things we can do to reduce the risk of them happening."

Every year around 130,000 older people have a fall, with many suffering significant and in some instances, life-changing injuries.

A person who falls can suffer decreased mobility, loss of independence, and even long-term hospitalisation.

Falls cost the NHS an eye-watering £2.3bn a year, with £1.1bn attributed to treating hip fractures alone. Studies have also shown that when an individual falls once, they are twice as likely to fall again.

But it’s really important to remember having a fall is not simply an inevitable part of getting older. And while the impact of falls is huge on individuals, their families and the organisations which provide care and support, many incidents are avoidable by taking some simple measures to reduce the risks.

That’s why during October we’ll be focusing on this range of measures, the lifestyle adjustments that will also help reduce falls and the organisations that can provide practical support, such as home adjustments and personal alarms.

“The impact of a fall on someone’s life can be huge and goes far beyond the physical implications,” explained Swansea Bay University Health Board’s Quality Improvement Lead for Falls Prevention, Eleri D’Arcy.

“It can impact people’s lives in many different ways and can result in a loss of confidence. This can cause people to withdraw from their daily activities, impacting their physical and mental health.

“But falls are not an inevitable part of ageing and there are many things we can do to reduce the risk of them happening.

“We don’t want to wait until a fall has happened – we want to get the preventative measures in place early and think about what can be done to reduce any risks as much as possible.”

Measures to consider include something as simple as looking around your home environment or the home of a loved one; are there any trailing wires or is there a rug at the bottom or top of a flight of stairs? – don’t forget rugs and mats can slip when someone steps on to them, so remove them if possible.

Even something as simple as a nightlight next to your bed, which can be easily switched on if you or your loved one needs to get up in the night, can go a really long way to limiting the potential risk of falling in the dark.

With the temperature dropping as we edge close to winter, frost and ice can lead to slippery surfaces in gardens and on pavements, so perhaps consider going outside, getting some exercise or going to the shops once things have warmed up.

Over the next few weeks we’ll also look at the practical support available to help prevent falls, how eating well and staying hydrated can make such a difference and why trying to stay active, doing all you can to keep your muscles and bones strong, is so important.

It’s also important to recognise how even the ‘little’ falls - the 'just a stumble' moments that didn’t cause a great deal of pain but more embarrassment, should never be dismissed or brushed off.

Below you’ll find links some useful links to organisations which can provide advice and support around the subject of preventing falls.

Follow this link to access falls prevention information on the Age Cymru website: https://www.agecymru.wales/information-advice/health-wellbeing/fitness/falls-prevention/

Follow this link to find more tips about preventing falls on the Care & Repair Cymru website: https://careandrepair.org.uk/

Follow this link to read more about preventing falls on the Age Connects Wales website: https://www.ageconnectswales.org.uk/

20/08/2025

Did you know that the CPR principle remains the same for all casualties, whether they are in wheelchairs or not? Some adaptations, approaches, and modifications may be necessary for effective techniques for people with disabilities. When assisting a casualty in a wheelchair during CPR, it's important to transfer them to a flat, hard surface for effective compression depth.

To ensure a safe transfer of a person from a wheelchair to the ground, follow the guidelines in the short video clip (see link below) showing the technique in practice. With thanks to Australia Wide First Aid for creating this content.

When assisting a casualty in a wheelchair during CPR, it's important to transfer them to a flat, hard surface for effective compression depth.To ensure a saf...

20/07/2025

Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPTS) - at your service! Fully wheelchair accessible ♿ Working in partnership with the Welsh Ambulance Service and also providing bespoke NEPTS throughout South Wales for those privately funding their transport. For more info on our service, you can phone us, email us or WhatsApp us🧑‍🦽

www.wheelin.co.uk

07/06/2025

Did you know that we also operate an accessible transport service for funerals?

We are trusted patient transport providers with the Welsh Ambulance Service and so our private clients can be assured that we uphold the very highest standards of professionalism, care and safety in delivering our service.

We offer dignified, stress-free and seamless travel for wheelchair users, ensuring an inclusive experience, both within the vehicle itself in terms of seating position, but our vehicle also blends in discreetly with other vehicles used as part of the Funeral cortege. We provide a door-through-door service and we will “wait and return” to ensure passengers can attend the funeral reception after the funeral service too. We offer a half day or whole day hire of our vehicle and crew. We also provide crew options if further support is required. For example, an extra crew member may be required to assist with access to and from the home address or venue. Support may also be required during the journey.

Accommodating a wide range of manual and powered wheelchairs, we ensure that everyone, from senior family members to friends, can attend and participate fully. Our service isn’t just about the logistics of getting from A to B, rather the service we provide is centred on compassion and care and attention to detail, befitting the solemnity and significance of the occasion.

11/05/2025

Photo-bombed by Trev 🐴

17/03/2025

We provide daily patient transport services to patients attending NHS dialysis units in Wales. These patients may experience bleeds from a fistula or graft spontaneously at home between dialysis sessions, and away from the clinic and caregiving team. Blood loss from a fistula or graft can become life threatening very quickly, so it's vital to act fast.

The simple rubber ‘bottle cap keyring’ launched by Kidney Wales in 2019 can be pressed over the bleed to stem the flow of blood, and buy the patient valuable time to dial 999. By applying the bottle top to the bleed in this way, you have sealed the bleeding area which will encourage the blood to clot more swiftly.

Kidney Care UK have kindly shared some bottle cap keyrings with us and we'll be sharing these with some of our passengers attending dialysis and we'll also be making sure all our drivers and crew have one on their set of keys.