Equipment for older and
disabled people:
an analysis of the market
Equipment for older and disabled people: an analysis of the market 2
Contents
About Consumer Focus 3
Executive summary 4
1. Introduction 8
2. Why these products matter 11
3. Market sizes and supply channels 13
4. Funding and provision – an overview 16
5. Mobility equipment 21
6. Community equipment 27
7. Ortheses and prostheses 31
8. Areas of consumer concern 33
Annex 1: NHS Supply Chain 41
Annex 2: Fair Access to Care Services 42
Organisations contacted 45

This scoping study was prepared for Consumer Focus
by George and Linda Lennard Associates.
The work was undertaken in Spring 2010
www.georgeandlennard.org.uk
Equipment for older and disabled people: an analysis of the market 3
About Consumer Focus
Consumer Focus is the statutory consumer champion for England, Wales, Scotland and
(for postal consumers) Northern Ireland.
We operate across the whole of the economy, persuading businesses, public services
and policy makers to put consumers at the heart of what they do.

equipment and products. This study covers the purchasing and provision of mobility
equipment (such as scooters and wheelchairs) and other types of equipment that are aids
to daily living, as well as devices that are known as ortheses and prostheses – see the
box below for brief descriptions.
A variety of terms are commonly employed to describe these types of products and
equipment. In this report, ‘community equipment’ is used as a general overarching term;
in some cases, we use more specific terms in order to describe particular types of
products where necessary.
Some decisions to obtain these products are made by people who may be in vulnerable
circumstances, sometimes in times of crisis, for instance after an accident, or because of
the onset of illness or disability. Purchasing decisions are also made indirectly by
relatives or carers. There is a strong public services involvement especially by
occupational therapists and other professionals who can assess need and provide
advice, and by NHS bodies and local authorities who may purchase and provide products
to people who qualify for such help. In addition, ortheses, prostheses and cosmeses are
usually provided by NHS-based services but there are also privately-run centres that offer
these services.
Community equipment refers to a wide range of products that are primarily
intended to help disabled people and older people with everyday living. Examples
include bath seats, can openers, hoists and standing frames but there are many
other products that are available. The term can also include mobility equipment such
as wheelchairs, scooters and walking frames.
Ortheses are orthopaedic products that are externally applied and offer physical
support, such as braces, sole inserts and limb support.
Prostheses can be described as ‘replacement parts’ such as artificial limbs, hip
replacements, and breast reconstruction.
Cosmeses are designed to help preserve, restore or enhance physical appearance.
Why these products matter
The products covered in this study are of vital importance for the health, safety and well-
being of several million people. They are also potentially useful for many more people

equipment’ at around £1.67 billion and the UK market for powered wheelchairs and
scooters alone at around £800 million. Another commercial market report by Keynote Ltd
put the UK market for mobility equipment at £501 million.
It is also extremely difficult to secure firm information on the numbers of users of these
products because of the inadequacies of published data and the wide range of products.
The Department of Health has estimated that there are at least seven million people who
would benefit from community equipment of which three million equipment service users
are supported by the State, leaving potentially at least four million people who, in theory,
could be self-funding. But these are estimates.
For such an important product area, it is remarkable that firmer figures on the value of the
sectors, and numbers of people purchasing and using such equipment are not available
in a comprehensive and robust form.
Key market features
Reliable information on market shares and on the main market players is difficult to
obtain. From interviews for this study, it appears that there are a small number of global
companies – mostly based outside the UK – which are especially prominent, as well as
smaller, sometimes specialist, companies. There is also reportedly a significant amount
of takeover activity by the larger players. Some of the larger companies provide a very
wide range of products to public purchasers as well as to private consumers. 1
Includes equipment to relieve physical pressures when sleeping or sitting for example
Equipment for older and disabled people: an analysis of the market 6
This makes it especially difficult to arrive at a meaningful or useful estimate of market
shares in particular sectors. In some equipment areas, for example prostheses and
ortheses, conventional market mechanisms are not very applicable in terms of consumer
choice.
A related feature of this market is the difficulty of obtaining reliable and detailed data on
costs and price issues. This exploratory study identified concerns among some

Purchasing from generalist retailers or via mail order, or on the internet where people
have access, may be feasible for some products. But many consumers may need expert
advice and independent assessment of their needs. They may also need to try out
equipment, or have a home visit to ensure that the product meets their requirements.
Purchases are frequently made on someone’s behalf by friends and carers who may not
be sufficiently informed about product suitability. At the same time, many of these
products are potentially of benefit to a wider range of people who may not regard
themselves as disabled.
Equipment for older and disabled people: an analysis of the market 7
Areas of potential consumer detriment
a) Prices: concerns were raised by some of the people we interviewed about the retail
prices of some of the equipment covered here such as wheelchairs and scooters.
However, the lack of publicly-available data is a barrier to further investigation, and there
are also difficulties in making price comparisons between what are often individually-
tailored products. Some public purchasing is carried out centrally through the NHS but
mostly it appears to be done on a local basis with weak purchasing power
b) Information and need assessment: there appear to be problems for some consumers
with being able to make informed price comparisons between products such as mobility
equipment or more complex products, especially for those without internet access it can
be difficult for consumers to obtain expert specialist advice and assessment prior to
making private purchases or obtaining equipment through public provision
c) Marketing and sales: it appears that some poor marketing practices exist according to
anecdotal evidence but the scale is unknown. The quality of sales advice is also critical
as consumers may need specialist expert help, given the potential risks of unsuitable or
unsafe products
d) Waiting times: consumers often reportedly have to wait for considerable periods of
time to obtain suitable equipment through public provision, for example for wheelchairs. It
is unclear whether this is due to the lack of trained professionals to make assessments,
waiting times for the goods, or budgetary constraints. There can also be long waiting
times for orthotic and prosthetic services

An important part of the context for the study is the heavy emphasis in public policy on
the promotion of individual budgets, self-directed care, personal budgets, and direct
payments. An integral part of this agenda is the idea and intention of developing greater
consumer choice, and a ‘mixed economy’ of health and social care provision (with private
funding augmenting public provision). These developments are affecting the provision of
many of the products covered in this study that can be described as ‘community
equipment’. More information on the types of products covered in this study is set out in
sections 5 to 7.
The sector (which should be characterised as a number of sectors) does not receive
sufficient attention, in large part because it does not fit easily into any particular
‘mainstream’ health or social care category. For example, while some products have a
clear health-and-rehabilitation function, others are often intended to enable someone to
live safely in their own home and locality instead of entering residential care.
Such products, and the arrangements which enable significant numbers of people to
access and use them, are rightly regarded by many as major advances – not just in
relation to technological development and design, but also in terms of people’s attitudes.
There are, undoubtedly, major benefits in regarding these aids or equipment as just
another type of product with potentially wider use across the population. On the other
hand there are undoubtedly risks involved for people’s health, safety and well-being when
purchasing privately. Many consumers who buy or need these sorts of products are
potentially vulnerable in some way. In addition, depending on the nature of the product
and people’s circumstances, consumers often require expert advice and assessment of
their individual needs before making a decision.
It should be noted that, in some sectors or sub-sectors it is not meaningful, or useful, to
view services and products through the lens of ‘markets’. For example, prosthetic limb
services are generally regarded by professionals and the public alike as an NHS, or
certainly a specialist professional/technical, service, with a strong bespoke element. For
most people the idea of ‘shopping around’ is not important (unless perhaps they are
seeking sports-related equipment).
Equipment for older and disabled people: an analysis of the market 9

Due to time constraints, the study did not specifically cover equipment and systems
commonly regarded as telecare or telehealth. In large part this is because of the sheer
range of equipment involved (such as personal alarms, remote sensing of the
temperature of rooms, remote monitoring of people’s medical condition, and intercoms).
Hearing aids, building adaptations and additions, and spectacles and contact lenses also
had to be excluded.
What we did
This study involved a combination of desk research and interviews with a number of key
stakeholders. The desk research included government publications, reports by specialist
organisations and material from the main trade association. Some commercial market
reports were also obtained but these proved of very limited use for the purposes of this
study. The interviewees included senior Department of Health officials, experts in a
number of specialist charities and other organisations, and some individual professional
experts including occupational therapists (see list at end of this report).
Equipment for older and disabled people: an analysis of the market 10
Structure of the report
Section 2 highlights the importance of these products and services, particularly to enable
many disabled people and older people to live independently. Issues relating to market
sizes and supply channels are discussed in section 3. An overview of some of the main
channels for provision and funding arrangements is set out in section 4. Matters relating
to the market for and provision of mobility equipment are discussed in section 5. Section
6 explores issues regarding community equipment products and services (a term
commonly used to cover what is in reality a wide range of often disparate products that
are aids to daily living). Section 7 briefly outlines some key points relating to the provision
of ortheses (externally applied products which offer support designed to give stabilisation,
immobilisation, relief and/or correction); prostheses (in very general terms ‘replacement
parts’ such as but not only artificial limbs); and cosmeses (items to help preserve, restore
or enhance physical appearance). Section 8 highlights some key factors relating to
consumers’ needs and circumstances, and sets out a number of potential areas of
consumer concern in this field that merit further investigation.

also at odds with common statutory and policy-based equality frameworks, and with
policies to enable disabled people and others who may be frail or have sensory or
cognitive impairments, to remain in their homes. Independent living aids and community
equipment (including mobility products) may well be of crucial importance to people,
either all of the time or for some of the time. They should not be regarded as ‘an extra’.
The current situation is widely regarded as deeply unsatisfactory (much harsher words
were employed by some interviewees). The critical point is that many of these products
are crucially important to enable people with disabilities or other types of impairment to
maximise their independence, to live safely and healthily, and to reduce the likelihood of
people being socially or economically excluded.
For example, in an independent living forum organised by Which? last year among over-
45s (about assistive technologies):
Equipment for older and disabled people: an analysis of the market 12
 81 per cent agreed products have the potential to improve their quality of life
 79 per cent of non-users said they would be willing to use them
 82 per cent could spontaneously think of a benefit that one or more products
could bring
 85 per cent said they were likely to use products that prevent accidents
2
For disabled children and young people, in particular, timely access to suitable products,
especially perhaps mobility products, could set the trajectory for the rest of their lives. For
example, proper wheelchair and suitable seating not only brings physical benefits but
also a vast increase in the likelihood of a child attending a mainstream school, and being
able to join in social activities with their peers.

Mobility, digital hearing aids and other equipment make it much more likely that disabled
people are able to obtain and maintain paid work, and have a social life. The right aids
and equipment can also reduce the physical and mental challenges faced by carers.
The right equipment can help reduce the likelihood of people having falls in the home and
outside, and therefore reduce injuries and incapacities. Equipment to enable people to

view themselves increasingly in terms of their abilities, not in terms of their ‘condition’ or
‘disability’.

2
Which? briefing: Tools for independent living forum, October 2009
3
Out and about: Wheelchairs as part of a whole-systems approach to independence, Care
Services Improvement Partnership, 2006

Equipment for older and disabled people: an analysis of the market 13
3. Market sizes and supply
channels
3.1 Financial value
It has proved extremely difficult to obtain robust and up-to-date assessments of the sizes
of the markets for community aids and equipment in financial terms and in terms of the
numbers of users/consumers. A key complicating factor is the sheer range of products
involved. For example, the term ‘community equipment’ covers an enormous range of
very different types of products such as bath seats, cutlery, commodes, and hoists which
cannot be described as individual product/market sectors or sub-sectors. Where figures
have been produced that indicate market sizes, different organisations employ different
definitions of a particular market sector, and it is often not made clear what types of
equipment have been included.
There is a lack of comprehensive up-to-date publicly available data on the different
product sectors (figures on community equipment are frequently bundled together with
those relating to medical devices for example). While some commercial market reports
exist, they are primarily aimed at corporate investors and their focus is on the financial
performance etc of the companies involved. The usefulness of such reports is also often
limited as it is not always clear what products are covered.
Consequently, figures on market sizes in this area need to be treated with considerable
caution. Some estimates of market sizes are set out below.

Meanwhile another Plimsoll report estimated the UK market for powered wheelchairs and
scooters at £800 million last year.
6
However, this figure is different to another estimate
from the Keynote report referred to above which put the UK market for mobility equipment
at £501 million in 2008. This range of figures highlights the difficulties that arise in
assessing market size in these sectors.
7
As far as community equipment is concerned, the Department of Health estimated that
the costs of products provided through community equipment stores in England totalled
around £248 million.

8
3.2 Manufacturing and supply

Obtaining a clear picture of the market structure or supply chain for these aids and
equipment is an equally tricky task, not least because of the difficulties of defining the
different market sectors. As we discuss in more detail in sections 5 and 6, a number of
global manufacturers and suppliers are involved but there are also many smaller
companies including niche manufacturers (some of whom may not be involved long
term).
Some companies are involved across the sectors, while others specialise in particular
product areas. It is often not clear whether companies are involved in both the design and
manufacture of products, and some manufacturers are also wholesalers and/or importers.
Moreover, some retailers also operate as wholesalers.
One of the reasons that it is difficult to ‘unpick’ the supply chain is that some products are
manufactured and supplied globally or least on a multi-national basis, sometimes with
primary manufacture being reportedly located in the Far East. In addition, some
interviewees have suggested that either primary manufacturers or intermediaries engage
in ‘badge engineering’ – essentially using different brand name badges for distribution in

In the prosthetics and orthotics field, sector leader Blatchford (which also trades as
Endolite) combines the provision of a range of prosthetic-type products with a substantial
specialist clinical service in the UK (obtainable via the NHS and otherwise). But here
again, although Blatchford is based in the UK, it has additional clinical, manufacturing and
research and development locations in the USA, France, India, Russia and Malaysia.
The complex and often confusing nature of these markets gives rise to questions about
consumer pressure and how it can be exerted, especially when there are global
companies involved for whom the UK market may be a small part of their operations.
Product design may be carried out at a long distance from consumers in the UK,
particularly where global companies are concerned.
Equipment for older and disabled people: an analysis of the market 16
4. Funding and provision –
an overview
There is a range of channels for the provision of community equipment. Local authority
social services departments and NHS bodies (such as acute hospital trusts and
community trusts) are among the key State providers, whereby equipment is offered on a
loan basis to those who qualify for help. In some areas, other forms of State provision
have been introduced where people are given vouchers or prescriptions for certain types
of equipment which can then be obtained from approved retailers. In such situations, the
product may be owned by the consumer rather than being loaned, and it may be possible
for people to top-up to obtain a more expensive product. Consumers can purchase much
of the equipment privately, for example, from retailers, mail order catalogues, and over
the internet. In addition, a number of charities supply various types of equipment direct to
consumers or offer equipment through sales or on a loan basis. Moreover, some
consumers can obtain scooters or wheelchairs from Motability if they receive the
qualifying benefits.
4.1 State provision and funding
Assessment of need
In order to access State help with obtaining community equipment, people have to have
their health and social care needs assessed. The basic right to such an assessment is

Over the last 20 years or so, many efforts have been made to break down the divide
between health services and social care services (still often referred to as ‘social
services’). For many years local authority ‘social services’ were assumed to be solely
responsible for social care, while healthcare was the responsibility of hospitals, GPs and
health clinics. But for the patient, health and social care support are often equally
important and can overlap. Consequently the planning, commissioning, purchasing and
provision of health and social care services are now often shared by local authorities and
PCTs.
10
Once people have had their needs assessed by a local authority and/or NHS body, they
have to meet locally-determined eligibility criteria regarding their level of need in order to
qualify for assistance with equipment (and other health and social care support). If they
are deemed eligible for help, the equipment is usually provided on a loan basis via a local
community equipment store or by a local Wheelchair Service (see section 5.2). Provision
of the equipment is State-funded, by local authorities and/or NHS bodies, including costs
of repairs and maintenance. As equipment provided in this way is on loan, it may be
recycled, following any necessary repairs or decontamination.
Depending on the type of service, and on locally agreed arrangements, partners
can also include acute or specialist NHS trusts and services, GPs, and sometimes private
or voluntary sector organisations.
Purchasing of community equipment is mainly carried out by local authorities and/or NHS
bodies on a bulk or ‘spot’ basis. Some ‘draw down’ from the NHS Supply Chain, which
mainly bulk buys through a variety of framework contracts (see Annex 1). Other local
authorities/health bodies purchase from suppliers directly, and some do both. It is
understood that about a quarter of the community equipment stores are run formally by
companies involved in the business.
Funding of State provision
According to figures obtained from the Department of Health, State annual spending on
community equipment (including approximately £82 million of
equipment it refurbishes and reuses) is over £318 million. Approx 60 per cent of this

appearance of equipment and whether it helps them to maximise their independence.
Vouchers and prescriptions
The mechanisms for State provision of some types of community equipment have
changed in that people who are eligible for help may be given a prescription or voucher to
obtain the equipment from an accredited retailer or approved supplier. For example, most
NHS Wheelchair Services offer ‘vouchers’ which consumers can use to obtain a
wheelchair direct from approved suppliers, which may then belong to them rather than
the State (they may also be responsible for repairs and maintenance costs). The voucher
is funded by the State but consumers can choose to top it up with their own money if they
have the funds to obtain a different model to that prescribed (see section 5).
The Department of Health is currently rolling out a similar scheme for the provision of
‘simple aids to daily living’ (known as SADLs) through what is described as the ‘Retail
Model’ (see section 6 for information on what types of equipment are included). This
arose out of the Government’s ‘Transforming Community Equipment and Wheelchair
Services Programme’. Under the Retail Model, people who meet local eligibility criteria
are given a prescription (after an assessment) for a particular piece of equipment which
can be exchanged at any accredited retailer in their area or elsewhere. The equipment
belongs to the consumer who is likely to be responsible for its maintenance. The
Department of Health points out that the prescription only relates to simple equipment
which is unlikely to need to be maintained. People can also pay to ‘top up’ the
prescription in order to obtain a different model as long as it is functionally similar to the
one prescribed.
The Retail Model is now being rolled out across England. However, its adoption is
voluntary, and the decision is up to local authorities and health bodies at local level.
Where the Retail Model has not been introduced, existing local authority and NHS
arrangements continue, with the equipment provided on loan. It should also be noted that
the Retail Model only covers certain types of community equipment.
Under the Retail Model, accreditation and monitoring of retailers are carried out locally by
local authorities and NHS bodies. The intention is to ensure that retailers who are
accredited suppliers are able to meet core operating requirements and competencies,

would benefit from community equipment of which three million equipment service users
are supported by the State, leaving potentially at least four million people who, in theory,
could be self-funding.
It should be noted that the situation in some product areas is best characterised as being
a ‘mixed market’. For example, some more expensive lightweight models of powered
wheelchairs are not available through the NHS Wheelchair Services, or in all areas of the
country because of locally-determined budgets and eligibility criteria. Powered scooters
are not available at all through statutory provision. Consequently, self-funding may be the
only channel open to consumers, unless they can obtain help from a charity, or some
may be able to obtain powered wheelchairs and scooters on contract through the
Motability scheme (see section 5). Children and young people under 18 may be able to
obtain wheelchairs and scooters from charities such as Whizz-Kidz.
Overall, it is very likely that there is significant need for community and mobility
equipment which is currently unmet. An important factor is that many consumers try to
cope themselves or they may well not know what products are available – interviewees
frequently referred to the ‘low visibility’ of community equipment. There is a very limited
amount of publicly available consumer research in this area. However, a research study
by Years Ahead (which involved over 1,000 people for the Department of Health
Transforming Community Equipment programme) showed that, when asked how they
dealt with the effects of ageing, a majority of people – over 55 per cent – said they coped
by just struggling on, and the proportion was higher among those aged 70 plus.
Equipment for older and disabled people: an analysis of the market 20
This was partly due to their determination to stay independent but lack of awareness of
what might help was also influential.
11
The above research found that less than 20 per cent of interviewees would
spontaneously think about acquiring a daily living product as a means of dealing with the
difficulties they experience. There can also be stigma associated with use of community
equipment: fear of being stigmatised and labelled loomed largest in the minds of non-
purchasers interviewed for this research.

Class 2 four-wheeled scooters £299–£3,495
Class 3 four-wheeled scooters £649–£4,495
Off-road powered wheelchairs, scooters and buggies £3,645–£10,000
Source: Disabled Living Foundation website

Equipment for older and disabled people: an analysis of the market 22
According to figures obtained from the BHTA, the estimated annual sales value of
mobility products in the UK (largely but not only wheelchairs and scooters) is around
£200 million. There are other estimates from commercial market intelligence companies,
for example Keynote Ltd estimates that the financial value of the market for mobility
equipment in the UK totalled £501 million in 2008, of which: the wheelchair market
comprised £140 million; scooters – £81 million; and walkers and other equipment – £280
million. However, the BHTA figure is likely to offer more reliable data.
Assessing manufacturers’ shares of the mobility equipment market is highly problematic
because of the lack of commonly agreed definitions of the market sectors, and of publicly
available robust market intelligence. From interviews for this study, it appears that there
are a number of large global companies which are dominant as suppliers in the
wheelchair and scooter sectors (it is understood that most are imported). These include
companies such as Invacare, Sunrise Medical, Pride, and Days. The UK-based
organisation Remploy (which provides specialist employment services for disabled
people) is also understood to be an important supplier of manual wheelchairs.
Furthermore, there are a number of smaller companies, some of whom manufacture
niche products.
There are a number of specialist retailers of mobility equipment. For example, C F
Hewerdine Ltd is one of the major specialist companies in the wholesale and retail parts
of the supply chain (it also supplies significant numbers to the NHS). It states that it works
closely with a number of manufacturers like Sunrise, Invacare, Otto Bock, and Moving
People. These suppliers and manufacturers often characterise their products as ‘high-
end’ equipment, which is taken to mean more expensive, better designed or higher-
quality products. Hewerdine also has a single-supply contract with the national charity

option’, the consumer owns the wheelchair and is responsible for repair and maintenance
but the voucher includes an amount towards these anticipated costs.
The Department of Health estimates that there are 1.2 million wheelchair users in
England (it is understood that the figure relates to users of Wheelchair Services). The
most recent figures relate to 2006/07 when there were about 900,000 people registered
as wheelchair users, according to Wheelchair Services (see below), and about 185,000
people being referred annually to these services.
In 2008 there were around 150 Wheelchair Services in England, although the number is
probably lower now. Finance for wheelchair provision comes from PCTs who commission
the services. Providers are part of NHS trusts, including acute hospitals and community
services, with a handful supplied by local authorities, third sector organisations and
private companies. In addition, wheelchairs are provided through services such as the
education service and the Department for Work and Pensions. Data collection is carried
out in different ways at local level, resulting in a lack of comparable and useful data.
A comprehensive review of wheelchair services in England in 2006, carried out by the
Care Improvement Services Partnership for the Department of Health (following previous
reviews of the services over a number of decades) found that: ‘Concerns about economy
rather than overall good value predominate. The consequences for individuals, families
and carers can be profound.’
12
The review found that, compared to other countries, England spent less on wheelchairs,
and it highlighted the wide variation in ‘per head of population’ annual budget allocations
for wheelchairs and special seating across a sample of Wheelchair Services. There is no
ring fencing of PCT funds for wheelchairs and the allocation for wheelchairs is integrated
into overall local funding. The review highlighted how such services can be the target of
cost cutting, particularly due to the absence of national targets. The long-term and wider
benefits of providing an appropriate wheelchair were often lost in favour of short-term
financial savings. The review also found that some Wheelchair Services impose a ceiling
on the amount to be spent on one chair.
Fragmentation of services, commissioning and

area is that you have to be unable to walk one step (I can walk about 15 metres with
crutches) but without one I am a lot less independant because I can't propell my manual
chair easily on my own.
However I receive direct payments for care and most of these hours are actually because
I need help with someone to push my wheelchair. I was wondering if there's any way to
make the justification that it would save social services in the long term to use the money
for a powerchair and reduce some of my care hours if that makes sense?
I'm in the process of going through a charity attempting to fundraise for the wheelchair,
but they only have half the money (£2,000 out of £4,000) and I was thinking about other
possible contributors.
I remember reading of an example in the DOH report on wheelchair services that stated
the above, but have no idea where to start or if I'm actually in cloud cockoo land!
Any advice would be helpful!’
From livejournal online messageboard:
http://community.livejournal.com/no_pity/510056.html
Due to increasing concerns over the adequacy of statutory wheelchair provision, the
Department of Health announced in March this year that it is setting up large-scale pilot
projects in the east and south west of England. A key part of the pilot will be setting
standards for delivering timely services. According to the Department,’Too often, people
who need a new service following a life change have to wait too long. This can cut them
off from society as well as exacerbating physical issues, resulting in a greater cost to the
NHS in the long term’. (Department of Health press release, 19 March 2010). The pilot is
intended to encourage local health trusts to work together, possibly combining their
spending power to get better value for money from wheelchair suppliers, and also aims to
integrate wheelchair support with other services.
The Department of Health is particularly concerned that the NHS is failing to benefit from
its purchasing power as NHS purchasing is highly fragmented and there are few
economies of scale.
rarely help with joint funding and other funding sources are explored, including other
charities. The majority of beneficiaries are in low income families and therefore few are
able to make a financial contribution themselves.
Whizz-Kidz says that it is able to drive down prices of mobility equipment by purchasing
nationally in bulk. It is trying to shake up the market, drive down prices, cut waiting times
and achieve design improvements. However, there is a risk that PCTs will direct people
to Whizz-Kidz as an alternative to NHS provision, particularly with the pressures on NHS
budgets, and this may already be happening in some areas.
14
Lauren, aged 14, is unable to walk and has to rely on a powered wheelchair to get
around. She found dealing with the NHS very frustrating as the application process took
so long that by the time she got a wheelchair it no longer fitted her. Lauren’s family
applied to Whizz-Kidz who provided a powered wheelchair with many features that have
really made a difference to her life. She can take part in everything at school, and the
riser means she can reach the various heights of the desks.

www.whizz-kidz.org.uk
For adults who receive the higher rate mobility component of the Disability Living
Allowance (or the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement), they can use this allowance to
lease a new scooter or powered wheelchair on contract from Motability and, at present, a
hire purchase scheme is also available.

14
At the time of writing, the Government was seeking to improve wheelchair services for disabled
children through the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ ‘Aiming High for Disabled
Children’ programme