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Last Updated on 13/03/2026 by Sarah Sarsby
MPs have urged the government to consider a national strategy for disability equipment provision after a Westminster Hall debate highlighted delays in wheelchair services, shortages in housing adaptations, and inconsistent access to assistive equipment across the UK.
Opening the debate, Seamus Logan MP said disability equipment plays a crucial role in supporting independence and quality of life for millions of people.
“Around 25% of the UK population are disabled,” Seamus said ahead of the debate. “The provision of disability equipment is of paramount importance to many across the UK. When provided, it can significantly improve quality of life and independence.”
Seamus said the debate would focus particularly on wheelchair provision, housing adaptations, and wider barriers disabled people face when trying to access equipment that enables everyday living.
Several MPs used the debate to highlight long waiting times and uneven access to equipment depending on where people live.
John Hayes MP pointed to NHS England data suggesting that around 70% of wheelchair users wait more than three months for equipment, while roughly 30% wait longer than six months, and around 15% more than a year.
MPs argued that these delays can significantly affect independence, employment, and daily life for disabled people.
Jim Shannon MP said that while appropriate equipment can transform lives, many people with complex needs are waiting too long to receive it. In some cases, Jim noted, individuals have resorted to crowdfunding to obtain suitable wheelchairs.
Helen Maguire MP highlighted wider structural pressures affecting services, including staffing shortages, supply chain issues, and variation in local authority processes, which Helen said were contributing to delays and inconsistent provision.
Daniel Francis MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Access to Disability Equipment, argued that the current system is fragmented and lacks clear national direction.
Drawing on findings from the APPG inquiry (see the full report: APPG for Access to Disability Equipment report), Daniel said the collapse of major supplier NRS Healthcare had exposed weaknesses in the current model of provision.
Daniel and other MPs called for the government to consider introducing a national strategy for community equipment to improve oversight, strengthen accountability, and ensure more consistent access for disabled people.
Housing adaptations were also raised as a significant challenge during the debate. MPs pointed to shortages of adapted housing, long waits for assessments, and cases where people were told necessary adaptations could not be carried out.
Some contributors warned that even when adaptations are delivered, they are not always designed in ways that genuinely improve independence and quality of life.
Responding for the Government, Social Care Minister Dr Zubir Ahmed acknowledged that some wheelchair services are underperforming and that waiting times in parts of the system remain too long.
However, he defended the current structure in England, where integrated care boards commission services to meet local health needs, while local authorities hold statutory duties for providing community equipment in the home.
The minister said NHS planning guidance already requires integrated care boards to reduce waiting times for wheelchair services, with performance monitoring due to be strengthened from 2026–27.
He also pointed to increased use of Personal Health Budgets, and confirmed that £723 million in Disabled Facilities Grant funding would be available in 2026–27 to support housing adaptations.
While he stopped short of committing to a national strategy, the minister said he would write to colleagues responsible for disability policy and quality frameworks to share concerns raised during the debate.
The debate underscored growing concern across Parliament about delays, fragmentation, and accountability in disability equipment provision.
For the sector, the discussion signals increasing political attention on the need for more coordinated planning, improved procurement resilience, and better access to assistive technology that enables disabled people to live independently.