A Bolton woman says she is waiting for her wheelchair after it became damaged - and has not provided a suitable replacement.

Carlene Kirton, who has cerebral palsy, recently suffered a fall outside her home on Campbell Street, Farnworth, when a car blocked the path and she tried to get around it.

And after another fall as she was coming off a bus, which her husband was on hand to help with, she realised there was an issue with her chair.

She raised the issue with Bolton NHS Foundation Trust and a mechanical fault was diagnosed.

She says that after this they came to collect her chair and did not offer a replacement.

She was without any chair for four days, and since then has been given a temporary one which is not suitable and she has had to replace its batteries.

Mrs Kirton is still waiting to hear about when she can receive one.

she said previously when this situation arose she was given a replacement straight away.

The 41-year-old spoke about what had taken place and the impact which this will have on her.

She said about being left without one for four days: “The big issue I have got is that have left me without a chair.

“I have had that chair since August this year and there have been three incidents where I fell.

“They said there is no other one to give me.

“We have escalated this with patient liaison.

“I am not even able to move from the sofa or from my bed.

“They have left me in a vulnerable situation.

“I am really quite daunted, I feel quite let down by the NHS.

“The impact on my mental health is massive.

“We all talk about mental health and well being but I feel like they have ripped it from me.

“I work as a welfare rights officer to help others in the community who suffer but now I can’t do my job.”

She said she has borrowed a chair from a friend but this device is only meant to be used indoors.

She added: “I have qualified for an NHS chair and have done for 40 years.”

Michaela Toms, Integrated Care Services Divisional Director of Operations at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We always ensure that our patients have alternative arrangements when their equipment is undergoing maintenance or repair, with our staff checking a patient has at the very least a manual wheelchair to use.

“Our engineering team are working hard to ensure Carlene has her powered wheelchair back with her as soon as possible, and we are in contact with Carlene and her husband to keep them up to date.”