Driving Change: Key Recommendations to Improve Wheelchair Services in the UK

Wheelchairs play a vital role in the lives of thousands of disabled adults, children, and carers, enabling access to education, work, and independent living.

Our recent report with Revealing Reality, commissioned by the Wheelchair Alliance outlines actionable recommendations to address long-standing challenges and drive meaningful improvements in wheelchair provision across the UK.

Building on a Foundation of Evidence

Previous reports have highlighted issues in the sector and the value of effective wheelchair provision. This new study advances that work, focusing on three critical areas: improving personal wheelchair budgets (PWBs), addressing service model failings, and reforming outdated governance and procurement processes.

Through extensive qualitative and quantitative research, including consultations with wheelchair users, service providers, and other stakeholders, the report balances ambition with practicality to propose changes that can be achieved in the medium term.

Key Recommendations for Systemic Change

The report identifies specific, evidence-based solutions to key challenges, including:

Establishing Leadership: Appointing a Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) within NHS England (NHSE) to oversee wheelchair services and drive system-wide accountability and improvement.

Standardizing Eligibility Criteria: Mandating consistent criteria across all services to ensure equal access and address current disparities in provision.

Dedicated Local Commissioning: Requiring Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to have specialized wheelchair commissioners to ensure services are funded and managed independently from broader community care.

Amplifying User Voices: Mandating the establishment of user groups to co-design services and address the gap in meaningful patient engagement.

Improving Data Quality: Strengthening the National Wheelchair Dataset to enhance transparency and allow for better benchmarking and service improvement.

Raising Retail Standards: Encouraging trade associations to ensure private wheelchair retailers incorporate clinical expertise in their offerings, improving trust and accessibility for users exploring private purchase options.

The Case for Investment

Underfunding has constrained wheelchair services for years, but the report highlights the significant returns on investment that improved provision could deliver. Conservative estimates suggest benefits could be more than triple the cost of additional funding, aligning with Lord Darzi’s findings that rebuilding NHS capacity is vital to supporting economic prosperity.

Next Steps

The recommendations are designed to work as an integrated package, requiring collaboration between NHSE, ICBs, trade associations, and the Wheelchair Alliance. The report advocates creating an NHSE wheelchair SRO role to lead this effort, supported by a dedicated working group.

Click here to read the full report: Wheelchair Provision: How to Drive Effective Change