AN ANGRY matron at an East Lancashire nursing home has hit out after being told three of her elderly residents must wait nine months for wheelchairs.

And the chairman of a national care association who runs a home for the elderly in Accrington says the problem is widespread.

Kathleen Knowles, of the Hollies Nursing and Residential Home in Church Street, Clayton-le-Moors, said her residents' quality of life was being badly affected by the delay.

She said: "If an elderly person needs a wheelchair they need it now not in nine months. It might be too late then.

"In the meantime, they are immobile and their quality of life is being badly affected." Staff at the Hollies train for NVQs in the care and use of wheelchairs, but are having to juggle appliances between residents.

"What's the point in an NVQ if the training can't be put into practice?

"For hygiene reasons alone, sharing appliances is far from ideal.

"The Patients' Charter is no good to someone who can't walk and is waiting for a wheelchair," the matron added.

Ken Nolan, proprietor of the Springhill Nursing Home in Accrington, said wheelchair delays were causing "great concern" at establishments throughout East Lancashire.

"Two of my residents have been told to wait up to 36 weeks for a wheelchair.

"They have paid into the health service all their lives and are very angry about this. It is just not acceptable," he said.

Mr Nolan, who is chairman of the Registered Nursing Homes Association, said similar concerns had been expressed at homes throughout East Lancashire.

Requests for wheelchairs are assessed by GPs and sent to the NHS Wheelchair Disablement Centre in Preston.

The East Lancashire Health Authority has an £800,000 contract with the centre, which has promised to go "all-out" to reduce the waiting list to two weeks by the year 2000.

Derek Cummins, deputy director of primary care in East Lancashire, blamed delays on an eight to 10 per cent increase in demand for wheelchairs and said sorting the matter out was a "major priority". "We entered into a new contract with the Disablement Centre in April and are looking to bring waiting lists down to two weeks by the year 2000.

"We too are not happy with the delays and sorting this matter out is a major priority," he said.

Sandra Wilks, wheelchair services manager at the Disablement Centre, said the centre would be "working closely" with the health authority to make sure the target was met.

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