Improving Wheelchair Services
NHS England and NHS Improvement support ICSs to commission effective, efficient and personalised wheelchair services through the following developments:
- Establishing a national wheelchair dataset
- Developing a national wheelchair tariff
- Publishing a model wheelchair service specification
- Introducing personal wheelchair budgets model and legal rights. This offers a clear framework to commission personalised wheelchair services which are outcome focused and integrated.
Work is underway to evaluate person centred outcome measures within the personal wheelchair budget pathway and we anticipate the findings to be available later in 2022. Person centred outcome measures are accessible and free to use via the Bangor University website.
Wheelchairs provide a significant gateway to independence, wellbeing and quality of life for thousands of adults and children. They play a substantial role in facilitating social inclusion and improving life chances through work, education and activities that many people who do not need wheelchairs take for granted.
For people with complex, long term conditions, being able to access the right wheelchair, quickly, and with appropriate support, is of paramount importance.