Wheelchair Provision: Independent Review Body

Jo White Excerpts

Tuesday 21st April 2026 Westminster Hall

[Jo White (Bassetlaw) (Lab)]

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Dr Murrison, and I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford (Daniel Francis) for securing this very important parliamentary debate.

NHS wheelchair services across England and Wales face serious challenges, affecting hundreds of thousands of disabled people and demanding urgent attention. Access to an NHS wheelchair begins with a referral and assessment by a GP, physiotherapist or social worker. Eligibility is based on clinical need and a wheelchair must be required for at least six months.

Yet problems arise even at that first stage. Many first-time or inexperienced wheelchair users are expected to know exactly what they need, despite having little or no prior experience. They are often presented with a very limited choice of NHS-approved models, frequently without receiving the guidance necessary to make an informed decision.

I want to highlight the experience of Jonathan, a 22-year-old constituent of mine from Bassetlaw. At 18, Jonathan attended his first wheelchair assessment, having never used a wheelchair before. After only a very brief trial, he was asked to choose between two models, with no meaningful discussion about how his needs might evolve. He selected a chair that felt slightly easier to manoeuvre on the day. That single decision had long-term consequences. The wheelchair proved far too heavy for him to manage independently. Everyday tasks such as getting into a car required multiple steps and the help of others. In bad weather, he watched friends and family struggle to lift his wheelchair, an experience that he has described as being both frustrating and deeply uncomfortable. What should have supported his independence instead reinforced reliance on others.

Once that decision about a wheelchair had been made, Jonathan was effectively locked into it. Like many wheelchair users, he could not access a reassessment because his condition, although progressive, did not meet the narrow eligibility criteria for a reassessment. That experience reflects a wider, indeed systemic, problem. Without proper guidance or trial periods, people can make choices that they later regret but may have to live with for years.

Such issues are made worse by long waiting times. Although NHS targets aim for 92% of users to receive a wheelchair within 18 months of referral, the reality is far less favourable. For many people, the delays they experience are far longer—and they are not minor inconveniences: they can lead to secondary health complications, avoidable hospital admissions and barriers to education, employment and participation. Those consequences are entirely preventable. Even once a wheelchair has been delivered, further challenges arise. Jonathan’s wheelchair repeatedly developed faults, from deflating tyres to loose bolts, which at times made it unusable.

Repairs, which should be straightforward, became another obstacle. When engineers did attend to carry out a repair, they sometimes arrived with incorrect parts or relied on Jonathan himself to diagnose the problem. That is an unreasonable expectation to make of any wheelchair user.

When a wheelchair fails, users are not simply inconvenienced; they are immobilised. There is also a significant inconsistency across integrated care boards. Eligibility criteria and equipment provision vary widely, creating a postcode lottery where access depends on location, not need.

There are clear and achievable solutions. First, inexperienced users should receive structured guidance and meaningful trial periods. Secondly, waiting times must be reduced through expanded capacity and better processes. Thirdly, the repair system must be reformed, with stronger accountability and reliability. Finally, eligibility and reassessment criteria must be standardised nationally, so that people with progressive conditions are not left for years with unsuitable equipment.

Sadly, Jonathan’s experience is not unique. Many wheelchair users simply endure these failures quietly, but quiet endurance should not be mistaken for a system that works. With better guidance, timely access, reliable repairs and fair reassessment, we can build a service that supports independence, dignity and opportunity. I believe we have the commitment to do so; what is required now is the will. I end by thanking Jonathan, who helped me with this speech in great detail.