In a stark revelation, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman for England has documented that disabled people in England are facing wait times of up to two years for wheelchairs. The report, released by Paula Sussex, highlights a dramatic rise in complaints – from eight in 2020/21 to 110 in 2025/26 – and underscores the profound impact these delays have on users’ independence and wellbeing.
Most complaints involve private firms that supply wheelchairs to at least half of all children and adults in need. The delays often exceed the NHS’s stated 18‑week maximum for delivery of either the device or its parts. “For people who rely on a wheelchair, delays, unsuitable equipment or poor repairs can affect every part of their life,” Sussex said, adding that the consequences range from physical pain and emotional distress to limiting the ability to lead full lives.
One poignant case involves Elliot Cruz Gardiyanoglu, now six, who was three when he endured a seven‑month wait for a wheelchair. The delay prevented him from starting nursery alongside his twin brother and left him unable to access education or specialist therapy. “We were never told there would be such a long wait for the wheelchair,” his mother, Jania Cruz, told reporters. “If we had known we would have explored other ways to get it, especially so that Elliot did not miss out on starting nursery at the same time as his brother.”
Rachel Perrin, director of the charity Newlife, emphasized how the wrong wheelchair – or none at all – can be dangerous and keep families trapped at home. “Elliot’s experience shows how the lack of timely equipment can keep children and their families from attending school and participating in activities with siblings and friends,” Perrin said.
Another affected individual is 68‑year‑old Graham Woolner of Bishop’s Stortford, who has lived with spinal muscular atrophy for 15 years. He was scheduled to receive a new wheelchair in August 2023, but it did not arrive until September 2024 and, when it finally did, it failed to function properly. Woolner has yet to receive a suitable replacement.
The Ombudsman’s findings call for urgent action to streamline procurement, improve communication, and ensure that wheelchairs are delivered on time and in good working order. Without such reforms, the report warns, the physical and emotional toll on disabled people will only grow.
Source: The Guardian World
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