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Over 30 British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA) members attended this year’s Naidex, showcasing a wide range of exciting and innovative products and services. BHTA members reported very positive feedback from customers at the show, enjoyed speaking to people face-to-face, and connected with new and familiar faces.
From commercial insurance for businesses and a National Mobility Equipment Register to award-winning powerchairs and single grip hands, Naidex 2026 proved a successful event for members. Here’s what they had to say about the event:
Kylie Evans – Mark Bates
“We’re particularly excited to showcase the National Mobility Equipment Register at Naidex, which is provided by Mark Bates. This new register means people can register their mobility equipment through the site on a central database. The idea is that the police will have access to this database so that if someone’s equipment is stolen, the database will enable the individual to be reunited with their product.
“There will be lots of useful information on the website for people with mobility needs. For example, the register will provide information on where accessible toilets are. The register will also collate manufacturer’s mobility equipment manuals so that people can access all the information they need to do with their product.”
Kate Turner – Merits Health Products
“We’re excited to showcase our Axcel range of powerchairs at Naidex 2026. The entire Merits range is new to the UK, so Naidex has been a hard launch for all of the products on display.
“Naidex has been really good with lots of positive conversations about our range and how we can help people with their mobility needs. Our front-wheel-drive products and cushions have been particularly popular.”
Dan Atherton – Cyclone Mobility
“We’re excited to showcase our range of Batec products at Naidex this year. We’ve had very positive feedback from consumers about all of our products. In particular, we’ve had good-quality conversations with consumers and more interest in our products this year at Naidex compared to previous years.”
“The InnoWalk is our flagship product, which we’re excited to showcase at Naidex. It’s a dynamic standing solution, a bit like a cross trainer. We’ve upgraded the older model to include features like swivel seats and adjustable arm movers. We’ve had a very positive and busy show.”
“We’re most excited to showcase our new range of powerchairs and electric scooters, particularly the Hero powerchair because it’s unlike anything else in the market.
“Naidex has been great. We won the Best in Show Award for our Hero powered wheelchair. I’m super proud of my team who have managed to help us get the award. It is a team effort: from the sourcing of the product, purchasing it, paying for it, and showing it at an event. Every single one of my team members are attributable for getting this award, so a massive thanks to my team.”
Nathan Milgate – Triride
“We’ve got some new models and new motors in our front power-assist devices, so Naidex is a really exciting opportunity for us to showcase those to our end-users and give the opportunity for test drives.
“The two motor upgrades provide better pulling power, more capability for using the devices at walking paces, pavement speeds, and accesses the terrain that customers are likely to want to go on – on-road and off-road – in an easier fashion.”
Matthew James – Precision Rehab
“We’re showing the ibot for the first time at Naidex. This year, we’ve introduced power positioning on it. Some of our customers, who were going from more complex chairs, wanted to go up the stairs and to use balanced mode and four-wheel-drive, but they also didn’t want to lose the functions they had in their current chair. So now we’ve introduced features like power recline, lay flat, and an electric leg rest as additional features, without losing the original features.
“We’re a top-end powered wheelchair specialist. We only sell powered wheelchairs, and they’re generally all advanced powerchairs.
“It’s always good to get products in front of people, especially our more complicated, high-end products where they have a lot of features. If you said to someone that an ibot is £30,000 to £50,000, they don’t realise what it does. When they come and see the product in person, they can see what it’s doing for that price. They can see that it’s going up and downstairs, balancing, and going over soft sand and gravel. A lot of people have two or three chairs, whereas the ibot does everything in one product, which actually works out cheaper.”
“We’ve been most excited to showcase Myosmart, a new pattern recognition system for patients. We’ve been able to use the assessment cuff live on stand for people to try it.
“At Naidex, we exhibited the Myosmart and Speedhand, a single grip hand, which are both new products. The last single grip hand was from the 1960s, so launching Speedhand provides a long-overdue and exciting refresh.
“It’s been valuable to be able to do some real-time assessments on people at Naidex as well.”
Drew Fullalove – Monarch Mobility
“We’re excited to our showcase new line of carbon fibre powerchairs. These are all very lightweight, from around 11 to 16 kilos. We’ve also got our brand-new Onyx and Obsidian ranges to showcase.
“We’ve had very positive feedback from customers, with people saying that our products are mind-blowing and that they wish they’d had them sooner. We’ve had especially positive feedback around our folding products and colour options. We’ve gone with a matte finish, which is quite new and a bit different.”
Stuart Hill – Laybrook
“Naidex is a good opportunity to explain our new promotions, beds, and mechanisms to customers. We’re exhibiting our prototype, which is a platform type that helps people who are taller or shorter than the average person. We’ve also got a four-motor mechanism. It’s something that we had beforehand called the Empress. But this new four-motor brings up the legs higher than the heart, which helps people with lymphoedema. We’ve also got new mattresses, so we’re informing people that we can put a firm edge on both sides of the mattress, should they want that. We’ve got new massage systems which are wireless as well as some new accessories. We’ve got something new for everybody.
“Every year we’ve done Naidex, the week afterwards delivers some really good leads for us to talk to, show them what we can achieve, and go into a little bit more detail, and this is where the customer gets a bit more confidence about what Laybrook can offer.”
Kirsty Garvey – First Senior Group
“We offer services to customers, and we work closely with dealers, who we offer finance through. We’ve got specialised travel insurance for people with pre-existing medical conditions, and we’ve got new commercial insurance for businesses.
“We try to come to Naidex every year, as it’s very important for us to meet new and existing dealerships and customers face-to-face, so we can get to know them better and build strong relationships.”
Richard Holland-Oakes – Recare
“We’re excited to showcase the the new Blake Medical cushions that we’re distributing, and they’ve shown a lot of interest. We’ve also had interest in the Wolturnus active rigid wheelchairs.
“We’ve also got the new Benoit wheelchair power add-on system. Everybody in the industry probably knows the Benoit system, but this is now a thinner, lighter, less ironmongery way of looking at a product. That’s been really well received.
“The main reason we attend Naidex is to get enquiries but also book assessments to go out to people.”
Jolene Istan – CareTech
“We’re excited to showcase our rehabilitation services that we provide within CareTech and Oakleaf Group. Having a stand at Naidex around the rehab and neuro area has been absolutely great for us.
“From an exhibitor point of view, it’s great to attend industry events like Naidex because we’ve been able to make contacts which could potentially lead to support some individuals within their rehab journey that haven’t heard about us before.
“From a personal point of view, it’s been really great watching people getting in motorised walking systems and listening to their stories. I’ve had goosebumps quite a few times over the past couple of days listening to people’s journeys. So it’s been great from a personal and business perspective.”
To preserve a piece of mobility history, Recare, the family-run healthcare and rehabilitation mobility equipment specialist, has acquired a rare three-wheeler 1951 Argson Electric power trike from Yorkshire-based Mathewsons Classic Car Auctions.
The Argson Electric was produced by the Stanley Engineering Company – historically a market leading manufacturer of hand, motor and electric transport for users with disabilities. Between 1924 and 1954 the Argson Electric was a pioneering vehicle with around 1,500-2,000 manufactured on a specialist production line in Surrey. The example now owned by the Recare family was the 799th produced and is one of only around 30 remaining worldwide. This particular ‘invalid carriage’, as it was classified back then, is extremely rare as it still displays its original chassis plate. Once restored to full working order, the Holland-Oakes family, owners of Recare, intend to display this fascinating museum piece at relevant mobility events for the interest of today, and tomorrow’s generation, and the education of this product which encapsulates a part of this industries memory.
Richard Holland-Oakes, CEO and Co-Founder of Recare, is a life-long car enthusiast and collector. As a fan of the Yesterday Channel TV Series ‘Bangers & Cash’, he follows the car auctioneers Mathewsons Limited who are featured on the programme. The Argson Electric came up as a lot for sale which caught Richard’s eye as he explains: “When you have a combined passion for engineering and mobility, the opportunity to acquire a historic disability vehicle cannot be missed in my opinion. For the benefit of all within our sector, that’s end users and professionals, being able to preserve our heritage can help shape the future. Our plans for the Argson Electric are only in their infancy however we already know the long trip to Yorkshire was very much worth it!”
The Argson Electric is now undergoing renovations in the specialist Recare workshops in Oxfordshire. It is a sight to behold as it is parked alongside today’s hi-tech powerchairs available from Recare – a striking juxtaposition that demonstrates how far technology has progressed in 70 years. Andrew Oakes, a Recare Rehabilitation Consultant, and brother of Richard, concludes: “It was truly a memorable day for Richard and I when we travelled to picturesque Pickering to meet Derek Mathewsons, auctioneer owner and star of Bangers & Cash. He was delighted to hand over the Argson Electric to us especially as we chatted about its significance and how Recare intend to share it with the rest of the mobility community. Our new pride and joy will be appearing very soon, it will definitely be a head turner.”
Recare, the family-run specialist in healthcare and rehabilitation equipment, has appointed Grant Turner as its in-house Occupational Therapist (OT).
As a respected provider of quality assistive equipment, Recare is renowned for its assessment-led approach and clinical expertise. Since being established by the Holland-Oakes family, it has continually worked closely with healthcare professionals so that the best outcomes are achieved for clients with disabilities. The range of wheelchairs, powerchairs and mobility products Recare provides is one of the largest in the UK – all supported by Trusted Assessors with a proven understanding of medical conditions and associated challenges. This service prowess will now be enhanced by the introduction of Grant and his informed recommendations, backed up by a new stream of consumer advice and CPD education from this amiable and ambitious OT. Grant has a BSc in Occupational Therapy and a Diploma in Health and Social Care.
Before joining Recare, Grant, 26 from Desborough, was a Band 6 Wheelchair, Mobility and Seating OT for Northamptonshire Wheelchair Services. Previously to this, Grant fulfilled a rotational position at NHS Kettering General Hospital, helping patients in a variety of departments from the stroke unit and orthopaedics to elderly and frailty. In addition to being a Practice Educator supporting graduates at the hospital, Grant’s seniority developed in Northamptonshire Millbrook Wheelchair Services, funded through NHS commissioners. His experience of mobility, postural care and pressure management ensured patients had greater comfort and support on discharge. During this time Grant worked closely with Recare’s Tim Cox, Rehabilitation Director, as they shared premises and were able to liaise efficiently regarding patient equipment needs. This ‘symbiotic bond’ provided the foundations for Grant’s new career at Recare.
Grants explains: “My role at KGH led to working for Millbrook Healthcare Wheelchair Services where I honed my wheelchair assessment skills. This was perfect grounding for a role with Recare where I could be less limited on my prescriptions. Throughout my career I have always strived to go above and beyond for my patients so I guess you can say my expertise and talent have been released. My holistic approach to mobility perfectly fits with the Recare ethos. I am delighted to have joined such a caring and proactive team.”
Grant has settled into his role quickly and has already completed extensive product training. He is working alongside Recare Assessors on a daily basis, which has already produced several highlights as Grant concludes: “Being able to spend more time with clients is rewarding for me. I am able to assess, discuss and recommend with less pressures and with more of a holistic approach. One particular client interaction really stands out. To be present when a client was able to stand for the first time after a spinal injury, using one of our sophisticated exoskeleton suits, was a joy to behold. This epitomised why I do what I do.”
Outside of his busy career, Grant is a keen book review blogger, gamer and is passionate about film, particularly superhero movies.