Children’s equipment: Improving access through collaboration and policy

Last Updated on 25/06/2026 by Sarah Sarsby

At the BHTA Joint Section Meeting 2026, held on 18 June 2026 at the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire, delegates heard from Ceara Chamberlin, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Newlife, and Daniel Laing, Associate Director of Tendo.

Their session explored the findings of the Children’s Commissioner’s report, ‘Children Waiting to Leave Hospital’, alongside the ongoing work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Access to Disability Equipment.

The session examined the challenges disabled children and their families face when accessing essential equipment and support, and highlighted the growing role of collaboration between charities, industry, and Parliament in improving outcomes.

Delayed discharge and the role of equipment

Introducing Newlife’s work, Ceara explained that the charity provides life-changing specialist disability equipment to thousands of disabled children across the UK through grants and emergency loans, helping them access school, participate in their communities, and experience the joys of childhood.

She then examined the report, which found that thousands of children who are medically fit to leave hospital remain there because appropriate support is unavailable. More than 260,000 children spend three weeks or more in hospital, almost 35,000 remain for longer than three months, and more than 11,000 spend over a year in hospital, often missing out on family life, education, and play.

The report identifies several causes of delayed discharge, including fragmented services, shortages of care placements, inconsistent community support, and delays to housing adaptations and specialist equipment.

The report recommends stronger joint commissioning across health services, local authorities, and schools, improved data on discharge delays, greater support for children’s homecare services, better access to housing adaptations, and increased investment through the Disabled Facilities Grant.

Wider implications for the sector

Building on the report’s findings, Ceara said equipment should be considered an integral part of discharge planning rather than an afterthought. As more care is delivered closer to home, timely access to equipment is increasingly enabling both safe discharge and childhood, reinforcing the need for stronger integration between health, social care, and education.

Ceara also highlighted the importance of better data to demonstrate both the scale of delayed discharge and the preventative value of equipment. Improved evidence, she suggested, would strengthen the case for investment by showing how timely provision can prevent hospital admissions as well as support earlier discharge. She concluded by recognising the important role charities continue to play in filling gaps in statutory provision, while noting that families should not have to rely on charitable support to access essential equipment.

Building momentum through Parliament

The second half of the session focused on the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Access to Disability Equipment, established in 2025 to improve parliamentary understanding of the barriers preventing timely access to specialist equipment.

Daniel explained how the APPG brings together parliamentarians, the BHTA, Newlife, Whizz Kidz, and other organisations to improve understanding of community equipment and inform future policy. Since its launch, the group has grown to more than 40 parliamentarians, launched a national inquiry, and published recommendations on improving access to disability equipment.

He also described how the APPG’s work is helping to raise the profile of community equipment within Parliament, with debates, parliamentary questions, and proposed legislative amendments increasingly reflecting the issues identified through the APPG’s evidence gathering.

The session concluded by reinforcing the importance of continued collaboration between charities, industry, healthcare professionals, and policymakers. As discussions around children’s services, integrated care, and community equipment continue to develop, improving access to specialist equipment remains a key part of enabling disabled children to leave hospital sooner, participate more fully in everyday life, and receive the support they need closer to home.