Mum with MS stuck at home for months while waiting for wheelchair modifications

A Queensland woman living with primary progressive multiple sclerosis claims she was left stuck at home for months while waiting for her new wheelchair to be modified.

Mum-of-two Debbie Turner said she no longer felt safe in her old wheelchair after falling out twice, so her husband Geordie put in an order for a new electric wheelchair last year.

"We were sent a bill of $43,000.30 in April last year," Mr Turner told A Current Affair.

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Mr and Mrs Turner were told production could take a couple of months so when the chair finally arrived in October it was a relief.

But then they noticed that modifications were needed for her deteriorating condition.

Mr Turner said they immediately paid $2700 for modifications, but no one came to pick up the chair.

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He claims they made constant phone calls but heard nothing back and he felt they were "being brushed off".

As they waited, Mrs Turner found it difficult to leave their home, with simple tasks becoming more difficult for her every day.

Mr Turner finally contacted the company, Aidacare and told them he was speaking to A Current Affair.

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At that point, someone came to pick up the chair the very next day.

"When he was here looking at the chair he said, 'nobody in the whole organisation has heard anything of this'. He said we could have had this fixed months ago," Mr Turner said.

Mrs Turner said their ordeal has left her worried about other people who don't have anyone to fight for them.

Since A Current Affair got involved Mrs Turner has finally had her finished chair returned this week, which has finally given her a little bit of freedom.

Aidacare told A Current Affair it takes its duty of care and obligations very seriously and Mrs Turner's case has been receiving high priority.

Statement from Aidacare:

Whilst we can't disclose the details of the client via such a media request, we can confirm that:

• We recognise our duty of care to assistive technology users and their families and take our obligations very seriously and are investigating the matter with urgency. We will update our clients directly on the outcome of our investigation.

• Senior management of Aidacare had been in touch with the client before your contact and the matter was receiving high priority attention.

• The assistive technology in question is being delivered this week (week of 3rd of April).