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A personal wheelchair budget is a resource available to support people’s choice of wheelchair, either within NHS commissioned services or outside NHS commissioned services. Personal wheelchair budgets enable postural and mobility needs to be included in wider care planning and can support people to access a wider choice of wheelchair.
With a personal wheelchair budget, wheelchair users should expect to have:
Since 2 December 2019, people who access wheelchair services, whose posture and mobility needs impact their wider health and social care needs, have a legal right to a personal wheelchair budget.
The legal right covers people who are referred or already registered and meet the eligibility criteria of their local wheelchair service, when they require a new wheelchair either through a change in clinical needs or in the condition of the current chair.
Further guidance is available for health and social care professionals on implementing the legal rights to personal health budgets, including personal wheelchair budgets.
More detailed information about personal wheelchair budgets is available in the frequently asked questions section.
Dylan’s personal wheelchair budget has allowed him to live independently for the first time and attend university, as well as providing efficiencies to the wider system.
Leeds Health and Care Partnership and Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust produced a video describing how personal wheelchair budgets are helping people in Leeds maintain their independence by enabling them to choose a wheelchair that fits their lifestyle. Watch the video here.
Staff and patients from Gloucestershire, one of the first areas to make personal wheelchair budgets available, have put together this film about the difference being made to people and services locally.
NHS England is committed to supporting integrated care boards to implement personal wheelchair budget. If you work within the NHS, a local authority or a voluntary sector partner, you can join the Personalised Care Collaborative Network to access a range of resources, share learning and discuss issues with colleagues across the country. To discuss access, email england.personalisedcaredemonstrator@nhs.net
Alternatively, please see the support and resources for professionals page, or contact the national Personal Health Budgets team by emailing england.personalhealthbudgets@nhs.net. Wheelchair commissioners and services may also be interested in the Improving Wheelchair Services webpages.