Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on costs to the National Health Service of repetition by wheelchair centres of assessments carried out at spinal injury units as a result of (1) extra in-patient days as a result of delayed discharge, and (2) the organisation of the transport and nurse or therapist escort of the in-patient to the wheelchair centre.

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.