Disabled people in England are facing wait times of up to two years for wheelchairs, according to a report by the parliamentary and health service ombudsman for England, Paula Sussex.
The situation is highlighted in a detailed investigation into NHS wheelchair provision that was launched following a sharp rise in complaints—from eight reported between 2020–21 to 110 during 2025–26.
Cases of Delayed Access
In one case, Elliot Cruz Gardiyanoglu, now six, waited seven months for his wheelchair after being diagnosed with cerebral palsy at three years old. During this period, he used an adapted buggy which led to multiple falls and injuries. His mother, Jania Cruz, said: ‘We were never told there would be such a long wait’. The delay meant that Elliot missed out on starting nursery simultaneously with his twin brother, causing emotional distress.
Graham Woolner, 68, who has spinal muscular atrophy, was due to receive a new wheelchair by August 2023 but it arrived only in September 2024. When delivered, the device failed to function properly—its batteries died within days of use—and did not work correctly until October 2025, more than 26 months after the expected delivery date. He said: ‘After a year of waiting, the wheelchair they gave me broke on the first day… I only made it 100 yards before the batteries died’. The battery issue remained unresolved.
Impact and Expert Commentary
Rachel Perrin, director of Newlife, a charity for disabled children, stated that Elliot’s experience illustrates how inadequate or incorrect wheelchairs can be dangerous—keeping families trapped at home and preventing participation in school and social activities with peers and siblings.
Nick Goldup, chief executive of the Wheelchair Alliance, emphasized systemic issues: ‘Getting wheelchair provision right means giving people the freedom to live their lives and to enable them to contribute meaningfully to society.’
Regulatory Gaps and Market Issues
Sussex identified key structural problems including:
- A regulatory gap where services such as assessment, fitting, and repair are not covered under the Care Quality Commission’s oversight—despite being part of NHS care—because they do not involve health professionals;
- Integrated care boards (ICBs), which commission wheelchair services across regions, lack reliable data on local demand for wheelchairs;
- An uncompetitive market dominated by a handful of private firms that serve at least half of all children and adults who need wheelchairs.
The ICBs also fail to share information with each other when encountering poor service delivery from these providers.
NHS Response
An NHS spokesperson stated: 'Long waits for wheelchairs are unacceptable, denying people the independence and quality of life they deserve.' The organization cited its 'wheelchair quality framework,' co-produced with wheelchair users, which sets an expectation that 92% of individuals receive their equipment within 18 weeks. It requires commissioners to hold regular performance meetings with private providers to identify and address delays.