BHTA calls for fair funding for the healthcare sector ahead of the Autumn Budget

The British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) is calling on the UK Government to deliver fair and sustained investment in the healthcare and assistive technology sectors ahead of the Autumn Budget, due to be announced on 26 November 2025.

Support for community equipment and independent living services

The BHTA is urging government to act on the findings of the recent All-Party Parliamentary Group for Access to Disability Equipment report. The report highlights systemic failures leaving thousands without the essential equipment they need. Targeted, long-term investment from the government in community equipment services would ensure that people receive timely support, while reducing pressure on hospitals and enabling more individuals to live independently at home.

Improve wheelchair provision through allocated funding

A recent BBC article exposed widespread delays in NHS wheelchair services, leaving many people waiting months or even years for appropriate equipment. BHTA and industry partners have called for increased funding for Personal Wheelchair Budgets, to ensure individuals can get access to the right chair for their needs.

BHTA members that provide wheelchair services to the NHS are constantly battling underfunding and increased service demand, which impacts their ability to deliver timely, high-quality care. Increased government funding would not only ease this pressure but also enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of these vital services.

Scrap defibrillator tax

The BHTA continues to lead the national call to remove VAT on public access defibrillators through its Scrap the Heart Restart Tax campaign. This is a simple, cost-effective measure that would immediately make life-saving equipment more accessible in communities across the UK.

The issue is also gaining political momentum, following a recent debate in Parliament where MPs voiced strong support for removing the tax. The association welcomes this cross-party attention and urges the government to act swiftly to implement this crucial reform.

Increase home adaptation funding

The BHTA also calls for greater funding for home adaptations. Evidence from an Age UK report highlights that delays in home adaptations are forcing older people into residential care unnecessarily, demonstrating that timely adaptations help people remain safe and independent in their homes for longer. Increasing Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) funding would allow more people to access high-quality adaptation equipment suited to their needs – from stairlifts and homelifts to accessible bathing solutions and grab rails – reducing long-term costs for the NHS and social care systems.

David Stockdale, Chief Executive of the BHTA, commented: “We can’t build a fair and sustainable health system without investing in the organisations that make it possible.

“From ensuring access to life-saving defibrillators to funding the right wheelchair for every person in need, these aren’t luxuries – they’re essentials.

“The Autumn Budget is the government’s opportunity to show that it values ethical innovation, fair access, and the health of every individual.”