A new parliamentary inquiry is seeking evidence on the barriers that prevent disabled people from getting the medical equipment they need.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Access to Disability Equipment launched its first call for evidence today. It is inviting responses from healthcare professionals, equipment suppliers, disabled individuals, their families and carers.
Children’s disability charity Newlife estimates that only two in five families with disabled children have access to all the specialist medical equipment they need. Nearly half of local services reduced equipment budgets over the past year.
The APPG, chaired by Labour MP for Bexleyheath and Crayford Daniel Francis, was formed in May 2025.
Francis said: “For someone with a disability, access to medical equipment is a lifeline. It enables independent living and brings dignity, opportunity, and freedom.
“So it is deeply upsetting that so many people in the UK can’t get the equipment they need. Everyone should have access to the right equipment at the right time.
“But for this to happen, we must truly understand the root causes of these prevailing barriers to access impacting so many families.
“This means hearing directly from those impacted, including the carers, professionals, and equipment suppliers all working to make the provision of essential medical equipment more efficient, effective, faster and fairer for all those who depend on it.”
Access remains particularly difficult for disabled children and young people.
Families frequently report delays caused by workforce shortages, limited training, regional disparities and fragmented commissioning between national, regional and local services.
These factors can significantly affect daily life and wellbeing.
The call for evidence is open for four weeks, closing on 22 August. Members of the public can contribute via an online survey.
Stephen Morgan, director of charitable services at Newlife, said: “Newlife’s Fight for our Future campaign has highlighted the devastating impact that delays and barriers to equipment have on children with disabilities and their families.
“From missed milestones to family stress and lost independence, the consequences are real and urgent.
“We warmly welcome this first inquiry from the APPG on Access to Disability Equipment. It is inspiring to see parliamentarians taking meaningful action to listen and drive change on an issue that affects so many lives.
“We’ll be encouraging families to share their stories and experiences with the inquiry, because together, we have the power to help shape a future where every child and adult with a disability gets the equipment they need, when they need it, to thrive.”
David Stockdale, chief executive of the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA), said: “We welcome the APPG’s new inquiry into access to community equipment, which is vital for supporting independence, wellbeing, and quality of life for disabled people of all ages.
“Medical equipment suppliers are committed to ensuring people get the safe, high-quality products they need in a timely way, but the current system too often faces fragmented commissioning, funding pressures, and barriers to innovation.
“We thank Daniel Francis MP and the APPG for dedicating their time and energy to this critically important issue. We look forward to contributing evidence and working together toward a more sustainable, equitable, and person-centred system.”
The inquiry’s findings will help shape recommendations aimed at building a more responsive and inclusive system for equipment provision.
