Disabled people in England ‘have to wait up to two years for wheelchairs’

Key Points:

• Disabled individuals in England face waits of up to two years for wheelchairs due to delays involving NHS bodies and private manufacturers, severely impacting their independence and quality of life, according to a report by the parliamentary and health service ombudsman Paula Sussex.
• Complaints about wheelchair provision have surged from 8 in 2020-21 to 110 in 2025-26, with most relating to a few private firms responsible for over half of wheelchair supply, and many users experiencing waits beyond the NHS's 18-week target for receiving equipment or repairs.
• Cases highlight serious consequences of delays, such as a three-year-old boy with cerebral palsy missing nursery and sustaining injuries while waiting seven months for a wheelchair, and a man with spinal muscular atrophy enduring a 26-month delay and faulty equipment that restricted his mobility.
• The ombudsman points to a regulatory gap in wheelchair services, as the Care Quality Commission does not oversee assessment, fitting, or repair services, and integrated care boards lack reliable data and face a non-competitive market dominated by few private providers.
• The NHS acknowledges the problem and emphasizes its wheelchair quality framework aimed at ensuring 92% of users receive equipment within 18 weeks, with commissioners required to hold regular performance meetings to address delays.