Wheelchair and Community Equipment Strategy

Lord Harries of Pentregarth Excerpts

Thursday 11th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Harries of Pentregarth (CB)]

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, for introducing this debate, which is of great importance. I am the main carer for my wife, who is severely disabled, and I have calculated that we probably need at least nine pieces of equipment to lead any kind of reasonable life. She has a hospital bed to stop her having sores, a hoist to get her out of bed, a commode wheelchair to wheel her to the stairlift, a turner to get her on to the stairlift to take her downstairs, another turner to get her onto the commode lift and a commode lift to take her into the bathroom, in addition to a lifting armchair. In addition, there are special adaptations in the bathroom, with rails and so on, and there are both powered and hand wheelchairs, because we can get into the GP only with a small hand wheelchair. There are at least three ramps to get her out of the house.

We are very fortunate; this is a good story. We have what we want to lead a decent life. It is partly provided and partly purchased by us. However, it brings to my mind the total nightmare of those who do not have that equipment, or if equipment breaks down and they are not able to get emergency help to mend it. As we have heard from the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, and others, there is widespread dissatisfaction among those who need equipment because of frustrations, delays and bureaucracy, and I will not repeat those figures. I was particularly moved, as others were, by the story of Rhys Porter, who has cerebral palsy and was without essential equipment, including a hoist and home adaptations, for two years. Apparently, during this time, his parents had to help him use a commode seat in his bedroom and drag him into the family bathroom on a towel once a week, putting them all at risk of injury. When he needed surgery, there was no immediate help to have a hoist to get him out of bed. Such equipment, for Rhys and countless others, is critical, not only to support day-to-day activities but to ensure that essential medical treatment can take place, avoiding further complications.

Such delays are not just occasional. The crisis impacting community equipment, causing months—sometimes years—of delay for assessment and medical kit, is systemic rather than down to individual actors. The main reason, as we have already heard but it is worth repeating, is that there is a lack of national oversight. Statutory responsibilities are left to local authorities and ICBs, which creates inconsistent and patchy provision, and confusion over who ultimately is responsible for this essential service. Moreover, the situation is likely to get worse; with an ageing population and the rise of chronic health conditions, the demand for mobility aids of various kinds is going to increase. It is vital that the Government act now before the situation deteriorates even further.

In the light of the APPG for Access to Disability Equipment’s finding that there is no national strategy, no coherent commissioning framework and no single accountable Minister for community equipment, will the Government now commit to developing a national strategy for both community equipment and wheelchair services, overseen by a named Minister with clear responsibility for delivery?