South Ayrshire Community Equipment Services

Helping you live safely and independently at home

Community Equipment Services provide essential equipment to help you remain safe and independent in your own home. Whether you are recovering from illness or injury, or need long-term support, our service ensures you have the right tools for daily living.

All equipment is provided on loan, free of charge. We will never call to ask for payment - please be aware of scams.

Equipment will be provided to you following assessment by a qualified health or social care professional, such as an Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist or Nurse. If you have not yet had an assessment, please contact your local Health and Social care department.

Our Services

Community Equipment and Minor Adaptations Service (CEMAS) provides a service to residents of South Ayrshire only. Equipment provided has usually been assessed for by an Occupational Therapist and could include:

Toilet aids - Toilet frames, raised toilet seats
Bathing aids - Bathlifts, shower chairs
Mobility and transfer support - Chair raisers, bed grabrails, kitchen trolleys
Home adaptions - Bannisters, grabrails (self-referral available here)

The NHS Community Equipment Service is based at Ailsa Hospital and provides a service to Ayrshire and Arran. Equipment provided has usually been assessed for by a Nurse or Moving and Handling Assessor, and could include:

Static commodes
Pressure relieving items like cushions and mattresses
Hospital beds
Moving and Handling equipment like hoists and standaids

Short-term Wheelchair Loan Service

Each Health and Social Care Partnership across Scotland is now responsible for providing a Short-Term Wheelchair Loan Service, following the British Red Cross stopping this service.

If a wheelchair is required to support someone in South Ayrshire for a short period of time for any of the following criteria, a free loan of a wheelchair can be provided by South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership. Wheelchairs can be provided for a maximum period of 6 months.

If you are currently receiving treatment, please speak to your health care professional, who will be able to order a wheelchair through our Community Equipment Store. Wheelchairs can be loaned where one the following criteria applies:

To support someone who is receiving end of life care
To prevent hospital admission
To support someone being discharged from hospital
To support recovery from surgery or provide support to those temporarily non-weight bearing following illness
To support someone waiting for permanent wheelchair provision from wheelchair services

The service across Ayrshire has been developed using the Guidance on the Provision of Wheelchairs on Short-Term Loan released by Scottish Government in 2021.

Returning or Repairing Equipment

If your equipment is no longer needed, or you require a replacement, please contact the store that originally provided the equipment, using the contact details below.