Wednesday 24 September 2014

VAT exemption for Mobility aids

We thought we should write a blog post about VAT Exemption as we receive a lot of calls from people who don't understand it. The major points are:
  1. You don't need a doctor's note to claim exemption - it is a simple self certification.
     
  2. You wouldn't be buying these items of equipment unless you needed them, so clearly you have a qualifying condition.
     
  3. If the value of the equipment and its installation is the majority of the cost, then the whole bathroom adaptation is VAT exempt. That can include tiling, flooring, basin and WC, etc.
     
  4. Even if you don't qualify for exemption, there is reduced VAT for the over 60s, currently 5%.
More details are on the government website.

Feel free to browse the Practical Bathing website for your needs and don't hesitate to contact us if you would like further information or help with your choices.

Call  01753 842944


Monday 25 August 2014

People are Discovering the Benefits of the BioBidet

Combined Bidets & Toilet Seats


Bio Bidet Toilet Seats work with existing toilets to provide a hygienic means of cleansing with dignity. Eliminating the need for a separate bidet means:
  • space-saving, especially for compact rooms;
  • money saving, minimal plumbing;
  • no need for toilet tissue;
  • less effort, requiring users to sit down and stand up only once.
The Bio Bidet is a personal hygiene solution that offers gentle but thorough cleansing and suits people with a range of difficulties, including:
  • psoriasis,
  • eczema,
  • haemorrhoids,
  • incontinence,
  • mobility difficulties,
  • cancer.
Bio Bidet Seat
Bio Bidet seat
Bio Bidet  cleans more effectively and less harshly that using toilet paper. In some cases, using a Bio Bidet can also avoid carers having to assist with such a personal task. The control touch pad is easily accessible by the user or carer, if necessary.

Simple to install and amazingly effective, the Bio Bidet is easy and pleasant to use and can enhance a person's quality of life. The Bio Bidet is WRAS-approved, bringing a complete hygiene solution to everyone and toileting dignity to those who need some help.

All users can benefit from the easy functionality and a refreshed cleanliness. Follow the links for more photographs and details:
You may also qualify for VAT Exemption - call 01753 842944.

BioBidet Seat Spacers are also available, in 50mm or 80mm sizes. For use with the BioBidet 800 and 1000 models (and standard toilet seats), they raise the BioBidet seat for easier seating and rising.


Wednesday 30 July 2014

Shower Seats – A Practical Bathing Alternative

There are many reasons why shower seats may be the best practical alternative for our clients:
  • the family bathroom needs to accommodate a range of ages and abilities
  • Mobile Shower Chair - Adjustable Height
    Mobile Shower Chair - Adjustable Height
  • there is insufficient space in the home for a specialist bath
  • there is insufficient budget for a bathroom makeover
A wide choice of shower seating is available, providing for a variety of users’ needs. Some people are a little unstable on their feet and need support when standing for more than a few minutes. Others are able to enter the shower but need to be seated for the whole washing process. Then there are people who are unable to walk at all, for whom a wheeled shower chair is essential.

Our range includes free-standing seats, fold down seats, and wheeled shower chairs (self propel or assisted). Please visit the appropriate page of our website for details of all our shower seats.


fixed shower seat shown stored out of the way and as a practical seat for use while bathing



Tuesday 1 July 2014

A Better Bathroom - Judge for yourself

Cirrus Walk-in Bath Installation
Berkshire: Mrs W is very small in stature, and was finding herself rather "lost" in her large pink walk in tub. The old bath also took a long time to fill, and did not match the white basin and toilet. We recommended the Cirrus 1500mm walk in bath, with a booster pump to improve the filling time.

We removed the old bath and fitted the new white Cirrus bath with easy-access door, shown in the large photo. A booster pump and antiscald valve were installed, so there is now plentiful temperature-controlled water. Grab bars were fitted to help Mrs W enter the bath and lower herself into the water safely.

Mrs W can now enjoy bathing and showering again – such a pleasure after years of tolerating a poorly performing, unsuitable bath.

Browse our walk in bath range or link straight to the Cirrus bath. We'd love to hear from you!
Call Free 0800 019 5570 or call local 01753 842 944 or write/fax/email.



Monday 9 June 2014

Meet Robert Silvey

Robert Silvey joins Practical Bathing as Sales Manager


With many years’ experience in sales, the Special Needs bathing industry provides Robert with a new and exciting challenge.

Robert has received full training in all aspects of our product range and the needs of our customers. Covering the south of England, he will discuss customers’ requirements, carry out surveys and advise on solutions. With access to the full technical backup of the main office, Robert aims to provide an excellent level of service to our customers.

We are specialists in providing bathing and toileting equipment to individual homes and care homes, including installations and conversions as required.

If you'd like to talk to Robert regarding the optimum bathing solutions to meet your requirements, contact Practical Bathing on 01753 842944.



Friday 16 May 2014

Bath, Showers, Conversions in under a minute

At Practical Bathing, we have a wide range of bathing and toileting products for individual homes and care homes. We can also provide a complete conversion and/or installation service.

Here we showcase some examples of our bathing products and services, in under a minute!



Please browse our website for more information and contact us if you would to discuss our services or your requirements, 01753 842944
.


Wednesday 30 April 2014

Naidex, NEC

Naidex, the big national show for mobility products and services, iat at the NEC from 29th April to 1st May. It’s a worthwhile investment of our time to keep up to date with new products which may serve our customers’ needs.

There are over 100 toileting, bathing and showering products to see so it will be an exhausting but hopefully worthwhile excursion up the motorway, with benefits for our clients and future clients.

Practical Bathing specialises in bathing and toileting solutions for private individuals and care homes.



Thursday 10 April 2014

Transforming Usable Space in a 16th Century Cottage

Once in a while we come across a project which really gets our grey cells working.

original arrangement of storage cupboard and wc
We recently received a call from a lady living in a beautiful 16th Century cottage. As was expected, the cottage had low ceilings, stone floors and narrow doors. She is a wheelchair user, and wanted to create a shower facility on the ground floor.

The only feasible possibility was to adapt a cupboard and cloakroom by removing a dividing stud wall. The cupboard door was to be left in place as a “dummy” to preserve the look and feel of the cottage. Access would be via the cloakroom door, which was just wide enough to allow a shower chair to pass through.

cupboard area is now a shower area accessed from wcDetailed measurements were taken, and a scale model made. This allowed us to manoeuvre a model shower chair into the room, and test the turning circle required. The job could be achieved by removing the wash basin unit and replacing it with a much smaller wall mounted item.

The cupboard contained several electric sockets and the house sound system, all of which had to be moved. The lighting was changed to bathroom specification fire retardant units, and an electric fan heater installed for comfort.

In order to achieve level access, a shower waste pump was installed in a position which would not impede the shower chair, and the pipes boxed in for a clean appearance. The job was finished with white tiles and a red floor, making a bright and cheerful showering environment.

This was a real challenge, but an enjoyable project.

You can contact Practical Bathing on 01753 842944


Monday 31 March 2014

Are DIY Superstores Good Value For Money?

In the B&Q bathrooms catalogue are their Leonato walk in baths. These are exactly the same baths as the Satin and Sierra baths from Practical Bathing.

Now most people might assume that a large DIY superstore would have the buying power to offer products at very low prices, but the Leonato walk-in baths are £200-£240 more expensive than the same baths from Practical Bathing.

These baths are classed as VAT exempt when sold to a qualifying end user, yet B&Q do not seem to offer VAT exemption to purchasers. As Practical Bathing is a specialist mobility bathroom company, it is presumed that the purchaser will be VAT exempt so the process is made very simple for the claimant.

So Why Buy From Practical Bathing?


As mobility specialists, Practical Bathing can offer a wide selection of baths, showers and toileting solutions. We supply products and services to many customers - including charities and individuals - without having to add VAT. If you suffer from the following conditions, you may be eligible. Please see more information on the vat exemption page of our website.

Satin: walk in bath / shower unit from Practical Bathing Sierra: compact midi walk in bath from Practical Bathing
  • Diabetes
  • Osteoporosis
  • Arthritis
  • Stroke
  • Angina
  • Heart Attack
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Crohn's Disease
  • Parkinsons' Disease
  • Mental Disability
  • Hip / Knee Replacement
  • Amputee
  • Cancer
  • Blindness
  • Deafness
  • Spondylitis

Additional information: Practical Bathing offer a full installation service in the south of England. We can carry out a complete room adaptation/refurbishment – tailored to the precise requirements of the customer. See our full selection of walk-in baths on our website.



Monday 3 March 2014

Glass Shower Enclosures. Practical and Plainly Attractive.

A practical glass shower enclosure with bright, clean lines has been added to our range - Sanidoor enclosures from the reputable Saniflo company.

The enclosures are available in 900mm or 1000mm widths. Sturdy, split-height doors made from tempered (‘unbreakable’) glass enable both independent or assisted showering. There is also an optional fixed side panel.

Sanidoor offers level access where installations allow, such as wet rooms, or easy access shower trays with waste pump. A complete solution for practical and safe bathing.


Features:
  • Semi frameless design
  • Split height glass doors
  • Optional fixed panel
  • Usable on trays or wet room floors
  • Cristal Plus anti limescale treatment

Please call for full details 01753 842944.



Monday 17 February 2014

Topical Weather Update for Windsor

A308 at Runnymede
A308 at Runnymede
At Practical Bathing, we’ve been receiving many calls and contacts to see if we are affected by the now infamous flooding in Old Windsor. Never has our village received so much media attention!

We’ve been keeping a very close eye on the Thames and the weather forecasts and, last week, the water level rose to within 2cm of spilling over! It looks more like the Amazon than the Thames!

Much of the flooding is actually ground water rising up, rather than direct flooding from the river, and the areas affected are quite small. Practical Bathing is outside of the flood area, so fairly safe – or so we thought…

On Wednesday 12th February, we experienced something of a hurricane with driving rain and howling winds. Then came a lightning bolt that struck extremely close to our building, knocking out the electrical supply. It took out the phones, fax, internet, credit card machine – in short, everything was down.

Miraculously there was no physical damage and, by replacing the router and card terminal, we were back up and running the following day. The way local people have rallied round to offer food, drinks and support for the emergency crews has been inspiring. Our Director, Paul, is a volunteer flood warden and was helping traffic flow at a flood area on Saturday.

With more water coming down, we are told that even higher water levels may be imminent – watch this space!

Tuesday 4 February 2014

New! The Biarritz Walk-in Bath-Shower is stylish and contemporary

The Biarritz walk in bath / shower offers practicality and ease of access combined with contemporary styling. Features include a glass walk-in door with chromed latch mechanism and a step height of only 7" plus a removable 'bath board' at the shower end for seated showering.

Available in two sizes with left or right hand door position, the price includes front and end panels, bath board and glass shower screen. Further specifications can be seen on our website.

The Biarritz is the latest addition to our walk-in bath and shower range. Please view our website for further information and for other Practical Bathing products.


Monday 20 January 2014

New to our range: The Cirrus Walk-in Bath

We are pleased to add The Cirrus Walk-in Bath to our range.

Manufactured in the UK to a high standard and available in two lengths, 1500mm and 1700mm, the bath features:
  • slip resistant base
  • twin wastes for fast draining
  • front panel and waste kit included. 

The Cirrus also offers the following choices:
  • left or right positioned door
  • door handle options
  • tap positions
  • waste type 

An optional extra is the warm air hydrotherapy spa. Full details of The Cirrus Walk-in Bath can be found on our website or you can contact us with your questions.