A CAMPAIGN has been launched to help a blind and disabled man get the wheelchair he needs.

Gordon Divall says he feels trapped in his flat after being refused a powered wheelchair from the NHS.

The 46-year-old from Shoreham wants to get a guide dog to give him more independence but he cannot have one unless he has a motorised chair.

The East Sussex Association of Blind and Partially Sighted People (ESAB) is now trying to raise the £5,000 to £10,000 needed to help Mr Divall.

Mr Divall has always had sight problems but was mobile and had a guide dog so he was able to get out and about.

However he was recently left paralysed following an accident and needed extensive rehabilitation at a specialist hospital.

Although he can manage to get himself in and out of his chair, he has very little movement and relies on the wheelchair to get around.

While he was in hospital his guide dog died and Mr Divall was told he would not be eligible for another unless he had a powered chair.

However, his application was refused by Sussex Community NHS Trust because he has some limited mobility around his flat so does not meet their criteria.

He said: “It is incredibly frustrating. All I want to do is to have some independence and be able to get out and about by myself.

“The chair I have is not easy to manoeuvre in the flat as well as outside and I can’t use buses with it.

“I am reliant on other people having to come and help me out.”

Mr Divall, has taken an evening course in counselling at Portslade Aldridge Community Academy and now wants to take one in mentoring.

He said: “That is just simply not possible at the moment. I want to be able to help other people who have been through the same types of problems that I have but it cannot happen at the moment.”

ESAB has been supporting Mr Divall, helping him relocate to Shoreham.

Chairman Roger Thomas said he was disgusted Mr Divall had been refused a chair without anyone coming to his flat to carry out an assessment.

He said: “You cannot assess a person from just a piece of paper – you must meet with them.

“They have condemned a man to lose an active, positive life without a guide dog. They have also limited his role as a mentor.”

A trust spokesman said: “We have reviewed this case and unfortunately Mr Divall does not meet the eligibility criteria for this type of wheelchair.

“We have looked at alternative options and would be happy to discuss further how we can help.”

To support the campaign, send a cheque made payable to East Sussex Association of Blind and Partially Sighted People (with Gordon Divall written on the back) to: ESAB, Prospects House, 7-9 George Street, Hailsham, BN27 1AD.