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Adults: NHS Wheelchair Services (WS)

Adults: NHS Wheelchair Services (WS)

Last updated: April 2025

How the NHS Wheelchair Services are organised and what they will fund varies from region to region; many have a waiting list. However frustrating this can be, it is important to check whether you are eligible for their help.  Your consultant, GP, OT or physio will refer you for a wheelchair assessment.

"We discovered through another SMA family that now the powered wheelchairs provided by the NHS are more robust than 5 years ago, with more functions. There is also a possibility to add functions to the powered wheelchair as you need it. The advantage of the NHS powered wheelchair is that any maintenance costs is down to them -batteries, repairs, wheels etc.”

Generally, seat elevation or height adjustability is not considered a clinical need. It is not usually available through the NHS. In some areas it is possible to organise joint funding to cover these functions (see tab below). Your OT or physio should be able to advise you.

Following your assessment, there are several possible outcomes:

This usually includes a 3 – 5 year maintenance agreement. The chair belongs to the NHS and they are responsible for insurance, maintenance and repairs.

This is likely to be due to the regional criteria and what funding has been allocated to wheelchair funding.

If seat elevation or other functions have been refused joint funding may be possible in some areas:

  • With education – for someone up to age 25 years at college or university, so that they can properly access educational and social opportunities.
  • Via Access to Work (see Access to Work tab)
  • Via charitable funding  – such as SMA UK’s SMArt Moves.

Your OT / physio or neuromuscular care advisor should be able to advise how you can try to pursue these possibilities.

If you remain unhappy about a decision, though it is difficult, this can be challenged under NHS legislation and Human Rights and Disability Discrimination Law. Your OT or physio should be able to advise you if this has been done in your area. They should tell you where and how to appeal if you wish and support you to do so. In England this would be to your local Integrated Care Board.

Personal Wheelchair Budgets (previously wheelchair vouchers) are possible in England. You can use this towards the cost of buying any wheelchair of your choice.

With a personal wheelchair budget, you would expect to have had:

  • a personalised assessment. You are supported to identify the health and well being outcomes you wish to achieve
  • a care plan. This captures any health and well being outcomes identified These may be part of any wider care plans you need for your care
  • care that is better integrated. Different agencies working together to support your postural and mobility needs and achieve your health and well being outcomes
  • information provided upfront about the amount of money in your personal wheelchair budget and the local options to use it
  • information about the repair and maintenance of wheelchairs a wheelchair is bought that is not from an NHS commissioned service.

If this is the outcome, you pay the difference to an agreed supplier. The chair is the property of the NHS and you are responsible for maintenance and repairs. Not all WS will offer this option.

"We agreed to try a mid-wheel Ultra (which came to around 14k) that wheelchair services offered (unsure how they funded it but was part of the voucher scheme).  It was a disaster: clunky, hard to drive, no display to see the functions being used. We argued that it was making life difficult instead of the ‘enabling’ effect it should have had.

We asked Wheelchair services to take it back and put the 14k towards a Permobil and then went on to get some funding from a couple of charities and the CCG (now the Integrated Care Board in England). The CCG needed a really clear understanding of how much having the correct chair is so important and life-enhancing – how it can affect mental health well being if you are putting up with something that is uncomfortable and not up to the standard that you need. I’d say you have to use ‘mental health’ in these arguments. Additionally, it may impede you going out and about like able-bodied people.”

 

Wheelchair Services must give a clear reason, in writing, which you can then discuss with your OT or physio.

If it is due to the regional criteria and what funding has been allocated in your area, though it is difficult, this can be challenged under NHS legislation and Human Rights and Disability Discrimination Law. Your OT or physio should be able to advise you if this has been done in your area. They can tell you where and how to appeal if you wish and support you to do so. In England this would be to your local Integrated Care Board.