Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the procedure whereby wheelchair centres repeat the assessment of a spinal centre’s physiotherapist and seating consultant; and whether they are taking any steps to streamline the process.

No estimate has been made of the levels of repetition of wheelchair assessment, the impact on bed availability and associated costs.

The supply and maintenance of wheelchairs which fall outside the scope of Specialised Complex Disability Equipment Services are the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups. NHS England expects that assessment of patients and the subsequent supply and adjustment of wheelchairs is carried out within a suitable timeframe and to ensure the minimum of disruption.