AAT takes customer service seriously: it knows its equipment is essential for families to live daily life.
For the past two years, the Ortons have used an AAT S-Max Sella stairclimber, supplied by their local authority as part of a wider adaptation, to ensure getting Arthur up and down stairs was safe. Their son Arthur was brain damaged as a baby, leaving him non-mobile and non-verbal.
The battery-powered device features kinematic wheels front and back that raise and lower to ascend or descend at a pace set by the carer, an integral seat, and adjustable control handles.
Arthur’s parents can thus alter the height of the handles to their individual preference, depending who is using the piece of technology.
When mum couldn’t change the height setting one morning, they contacted AAT. Within 48 hours, the replacement part was at their home and the engineer had fitted it, all backed up by update phone calls so the Ortons knew what was happening.
Said Michael Orton:
“The AAT team really went the extra miles to help us out . Although I contacted the service manager at the wrong end of the country, the severity of the situation was understood and scaled appropriately.”
Since being introduced some 20 years ago, AAT’s S-Max Sella has become the industry leader.
With its impeccable safety record, thousands are now in use nationwide, in private and social housing, care homes, ambulances and hospitals.
AAT also offers unrivalled customer support, including detailed assessment to ensure the unit will meet the need, LOLER standard carer training, and a range of service options.
For providers (such as local authorities, healthcare Trusts and housing associations), AAT will offers a management facility, whereby it will deliver and set up the stairclimber for each user, then when they no longer need it, take it back, service it, store it, and manage the re-allocation process to another user.
As a result, AAT is now the chosen, proven, national partner for stairway access and more.
When you choose AAT to support you, you choose a team of professionals who have your ambitions at their heart.
You choose a partner, not just a provider. And its customer service goes above and beyond.
Not only does AAT provide the level of service as standard that the Orton family experienced, it supports OTs, users and carers throughout the process. We always spend all the time it takes training carers on a 1:1 in person basis, making sure they are confident using our equipment.
Why choose AAT:
- The A team: our team is dedicated to improving daily life- for healthcare professionals, carers and individuals. Since 2001 our commitment has been professional, our approach personal.
- Solutions that evolve with you: we work with you, for you. A solution that will evolve with you and life’s changes. And if we think any of our products aren’t the right solution, we’ll say so.
- Innovation that leads the market: our stairclimbers were the first of their kind in the UK. And we haven’t stopped innovating, Every product we offer is designed to answer the real world daily problems faced by people with impairments AND for those that care for them.
- Sitting comfortably? It’s a certainty! Comfort and safety are the priorities to us- for all involved, in all aspects of daily life, at home and abroad.
The “go to” choice: AAT products are now in almost every Council and NHS Trust in the country. We’re trusted for our ethical, professional response. For our speed of response. For the best value results we achieve. For our care.
You can find out more about the Sella stairclimber here: https://www.aatgb.com/s-max-sella/
and about AAT’s support for healthcare/ adaptations professionals here: https://www.aatgb.com/ots/
The 17 year-old has complex disabilities, including seizures and being non-verbal. Her parents Melissa and Darren themselves have health issues.
They were finding it a risk getting Rhianna up and down stairs.
But the design and size of their house meant it was not viable to use the conventional solutions- a stairlift or through-floor lift.
Rhianna’s Occupational Therapist at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust found out about AAT’s Sella stairclimber. She reached out to us for assessment support.
Our Sella worked!
See how the Sella stairclimbing wheelchair works here: http://www.aat.com/s-max-sella/
In Medequip’s stores for Kirklees’ Council, a Sella stairclimber was available. Some of the accessories needed to ensure Rhianna was sat secure and properly supported as she needed were also there.
As a result, using the re-issue capability of the stairclimber, Rhianna’s carers can now transfer her up and down the stairs without risk to her or themselves.
Melissa and Darren can safely pause the stairclimbing process should Rhianna have a seizure en route.
Our re-issue facility for stairclimbers is unique within the sector.
Our re-issue means that- where appropriate- necessary, reasonable and practical changes can be made to make stairs safe for someone with reduced mobility, for <£1000/ £650 pa(1).
There are no structural alterations nor permanent restriction of the stairs for other members of the household.
You can find out more about our re-issue opportunity here: https://www.aatgb.com/taking-steps-to-reduce-adaptation-delay-for-650-recycle/
Mum Melissa says:
“It’s been a real life saver! Rhianna’s face shows that she enjoys it, and it’s made the world of difference to us all.
“It was a bit scarey to start with at the top of the stairs, but AAT trained us fully in how to use the stairclimber safely.
"If Rhianna has a seizure, we just stop until it’s passed and we can resume.”
Adds our Gareth Brown ,
“Rhianna requires significant support to sit. We had most of the accessories she needed in stores @ Kirklees, so there was only need to purchase a couple of small additions.
"Her access to all levels of the family home has been made safe, including assessment, equipment and training, for around £1000- a fraction of the cost of other solutions, had they been viable.”
(1)Sella purchase price £4650, re-issue x 3 @ £995/ re-issue= £2985/12 years (lifespan of. Sella) = £636/annum.
The core re-issue package (£995/re-issue) includes client assessment and full training of two carers.
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One of the four fundamental words governing adaptations is “appropriate”. The stairs are potentially one of the most dangerous areas of a home, so due diligence must be applied when prescribing any equipment for use thereon.
AAT GB, the UK’s largest and only nationwide supplier of stairclimbers (stairclimbing wheelchairs) is advising OTs to check that their suppliers are as professional and concerned for the client as they are when choosing any method of enabling a disabled person to transfer between floor levels.
That includes the suitability of the equipment for each combination of client and home environment.
It goes beyond: the support given to the client by the supplier- the setting up of the equipment to suit them, explaining/training them in its correct operation so they are comfortable using it, and its service/maintenance.
"Failure to provide appropriate equipment and support has consequences.
“We have become aware in recent weeks of several situations where stairway access solutions have been sold without due care being exercised, where the kit is either inappropriate for the circumstances and client, or its use has not been properly explained to the client. In one case, an elderly lady was just sent the product alongside a video on how to use it. We know of another where the lady was too small to safely get on and off the stairlift even on its lowest setting: she was literally having to almost jump on and off at the top of the stairs!
“It’s people’s safety and independence we are talking about. OT’s need suppliers who exercise the same level of professionalism as they do. It should never be about getting the sale. It’s about the complete service- before, during and after the equipment has been provided.’”
Peter Wingrave, AAT Director
AAT was the UK’s first provider of stairclimbers; 20+ years on it has more than 3500 in daily use up and down the country.
It is the only nationwide supplier that as standard assesses each potential client and their staircase to ensure its relevance, then re-visits the client to set up the stairclimber to their personal preferences/needs, explain how it works, and in advance train them (free of charge) in its safe use- however long it takes.
It is also the only nationwide supplier to have a team of in-house trainers and engineers as large as its sales team, so it can deliver a holistic service that ensures every client is fully confident in the kit.
Full details of AAT’s offering for OTs can be found here: https://www.aatgb.com/ots/.
AKA the stairclimber people, AAT has championed the idea for years.
Good choice of equipment, that is well-designed and well-made, means it is more durable and does not need replacing.
An added benefit, often overlooked, is that OT's can often (in appropriate circumstances) re-prescribe (recycle, re-issue) to another client: one initial capital purchase can thus support several people.
AAT says its S-Max stairclimber aka a stair climbing wheelchair is a case in point.
The battery-powered portable Class 1 Medical Device can be used on almost any staircase and by most people- children and adults- with a mobility impairment(2).
Unlike its alternatives (through-floor lift, stairlift) the best value is enhanced in that it requires no structural survey, installation, nor ‘making good’.
The adaptation provider benefits from savings on time and labour costs. The client and their family- who are already facing upheaval and lifestyle changes- have minimised disruption .
“Foundations states there needs to be more such recycling.
“It makes financial sense. We are doing everything in our power to help: we’ve introduced a scheme whereby we will collect the stairclimber, store it for the social services department or social housing provider, service it, and then support in its re-allocation to its next recipient- all for <£1000, so within the scope of ‘minor works’. And within a matter of days, compared to the weeks or months going the conventional DFG route.”
Peter Wingrave, AAT Director
Many local authorities are already applying the concept, including Leeds City Council, North Yorkshire County Council, Hertfordshire County Council and Essex County Council.
AAT’s S-Max is the #1 selling stairclimber, with thousands now in use nationwide, building on the equipment’s 20+year heritage and impeccable safety record.
Full details of AAT’s support services for adaptations teams can be found here: https://www.aatgb.com/ots/.
(1)https://www.foundations.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/The-cost-benefit-to-the-NHS-arising-from-preventative-housing-interventions.pdf, https://www.foundations.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/HOUSING-ASSOCIATIONS-HOME-ADAPTATIONS-AND-INDEPENDENT-LIVES-v2-small.pdf
(2)Subject to assessment by a trained professional, and that there is a trained care-giver to operate the Device
