Black folding frame that is lightweight and manually operated. It has removable armrests, swing-away foot rests, an additional back bar, transit wheels, and push handles.
By 18, a sudden health decline meant I was either in the hospital or at home, confined to my bed. I knew I needed a wheelchair and began searching online, but I was unsure where to start. A consultant then directed me to NHS Wheelchair Services.
Initially, the department seemed very helpful. We discussed every aspect of my disability, recorded my height and weight, and talked about my lifestyle. I wasn’t eligible for a powered wheelchair because our house didn’t have a ramp, and we didn’t have a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. As a result, I was offered two manual wheelchairs. I instantly chose the Invacare Action 3, mainly because of its appearance, as the other option was somehow even more cumbersome. However, I still disliked that all the equipment provided by Occupational Therapy and Wheelchair Services looked large, bulky, and unattractive. As a young adult, I didn’t want to use something that resembled hospital or care home equipment. I was struggling to accept my newly diagnosed disability, and receiving this wheelchair didn’t help that process. Unfortunately, you can only order these chairs through the NHS in your preferred colour if you’re under 18. So, I had no choice but to opt for the standard matte black frame, but I was eager for something more colourful.
The Invacare Action 3 is a lightweight manual folding wheelchair available in self-propel, transit, and one-arm drive models. I was given the transit wheels because wheelchair services assumed my condition meant I couldn’t self-propel, which is true. However, I appreciate being able to manoeuvre somewhat independently at a table or to position myself to see something in a shop. Still, they refused to provide self-propelled wheels. Nevertheless, they did allow me to choose a mid-range backrest and a Matrix Flo-Tech Lite seat cushion, also made by Invacare.
Since the frame weighs only 14.5kg, my family found it easy to lift it in and out of our car boot once folded. To fold it, they removed the seat cushion, flipped two levers on each side of the backrest to fold it in half, detached the swing-away footrests by pressing two quick-release buttons, and lifted the seat base until the lock clicked, securing the chair in a folded position.
To fold the chair, remove the seat cushion and lift the seat base until the lock clicks, securing the chair in a folded position. This lock ensures the chair stays folded, and you can remove the quick-release wheels to make it more compact for transport. While I usually keep the wheels on, removing them is beneficial when flying or using small cars and taxis. To unfold the chair, press the lever to unlock the frame and then push down on the seat base until it lies flat.
After a three-month wait for the wheelchair’s delivery, I was immediately disappointed. The product was the wrong width and colour (a disgusting dark maroon), the footplates were incorrect, and the backrest was the wrong height, so it didn’t support my back at all. Despite my disappointment, I was advised to try it for a month before requesting changes. However, I couldn’t even last a week before contacting Wheelchair Services for adjustments. The wheelchair was so much wider that I felt like I was rattling inside it instead of being supported by a properly fitted wheelchair. Still, there was no way to make it narrower, so they had to place another order for the correct size, with a reinforced backrest and a solid footplate instead of two separate footrests.
Unfortunately, the second wheelchair was even worse than the first. Once again, they measured incorrectly, resulting in a wheelchair that was larger than the original in both width and length. The reordering process took several months, leaving me without a functional wheelchair for nearly ten months. When I was told it would take another 3+ months to reorder, I realised I could no longer continue working with NHS Wheelchair Services, as my condition continued to worsen, effectively confining me at home. The lack of compassion was also deeply affecting my mental health. I needed to get out and be in a comfortable, safe, and custom-made wheelchair.
In summary, I recommend this wheelchair for users who need a compact, lightweight, foldable manual frame for light use. For more active users, I recommend adding a solid backrest, a comfortable seat cushion, larger front caster wheels, a solid footplate, self-propelled wheels with pneumatic tyres, and adjustable height push handles to improve ride comfort and support.
Sadly, I received such poor customer service that I felt I had no option but to look elsewhere! I completely understand that the NHS is limited by budgets, meaning you can only choose from a specific range of wheelchairs and adaptations. However, I have since found out that many additional modifications could have been made to the Invacare Action 3 Wheelchair if we had contacted a specialist retailer and been informed of the PWB scheme. Therefore, I recommend doing some research before placing your order with your local Wheelchair Services.
