Page 102 - BHTA 100 years

Shopmobility developments, new quali cations, busy schedules and current issues...
A couple of years after BHTA took responsibility for the National Federation of Shopmobility (NFSUK), April 2017 saw the launch of a directory which contained a full listing of all the federation’s schemes across the UK, helping people to identify where a local Shopmobility may be when out and about.
With mobility scooter theft being a continual problem, NFSUK also decided to take action to help try to reunite users with their stolen mobility vehicles.
A scheme that was originally started by Littlehampton Shopmobility and the local Sussex Police and involved a local database to assist tracking down the owners of stolen or abandoned mobility vehicles was developed into a national initiative.
The Association continued to develop too. Additions were made in the form of two new roles of Research & Support Of cers, with BHTA Sections being split into two groups and adding to the decision taken by the DAC and Stoma & Continence Product Manufacturer Sections that led to them having dedicated Section support.
The rst role covered the consumer and more retail focused sections (mobility, children’s equipment, stairlifts & access and independent living products and services) and the other the more NHS acute/clinical sections ( rst aid medical equipment, hearing care, orthotics, prosthetics, beds & support surfaces and pressure care seating & positioning).
The BHTA Hearing Care Section secured a place on the Hearing Loss Alliance Group, which was made up of all the key regulatory bodies, charities and hearing organisations working collaboratively to in uence the sector.
BHTA 100 years