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Responses > Wheelchair Services: Open Caseloads and Waiting Times

Freedom of Information request Wheelchair Services: Open Caseloads and Waiting Times

Response published: 15 April 2025

FOI Request

As you will be aware, the recently released Wheelchair Alliance report has highlighted the postcode lottery experienced by wheelchair users, and the many long waits. I am interested in the underlying data. Please provide the following information separately for each of the wheelchair services in your area. This data is 'essential' or 'basic' information relating to each referral and should be easily extracted from the relevant Case Management System, Electronic Patient Record, or similar. Please feel free to provide the data in alternative formats, e.g. an Excel spreadsheet, if appropriate. 1a) How many open referrals does the service have for ADULTS? 1b) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for LESS than 18 weeks? 1c) Of those open referrals, how many have open for MORE than 18 weeks? 1d) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for MORE than 52 weeks? 1e) Of those open referrals, how many are 'low need' (per NHS Wheelchair Data Collection definition)? 1f) Of those open referrals, how many are 'medium need'? 1g) Of those open referrals, how many are 'high need'? 1h) Of those open referrals, how many are 'specialist need'? 1i) Of those open referrals, how many are for powered wheelchairs? 2a) How many open referrals does the service have for CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE? 2b) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for LESS than 18 weeks? 2c) Of those open referrals, how many have open for MORE than 18 weeks? 2d) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for MORE than 52 weeks? 2e) Of those open referrals, how many are 'low need' (per NHS Wheelchair Data Collection definition)? 2f) Of those open referrals, how many are 'medium need'? 2g) Of those open referrals, how many are 'high need'? 2h) Of those open referrals, how many are 'specialist need'? 2i) Of those open referrals, how many are for powered wheelchairs?

FOI Response

Freedom of Information Request – Ref: FOI 407-2025

Thank you for your recent Freedom of Information request. Please find our response below.

You asked:

As you will be aware, the recently released Wheelchair Alliance report has highlighted the postcode lottery experienced by wheelchair users, and the many long waits. I am interested in the underlying data.

Please provide the following information separately for each of the wheelchair services in your area. This data is ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ information relating to each referral and should be easily extracted from the relevant Case Management System, Electronic Patient Record, or similar. Please feel free to provide the data in alternative formats, e.g. an Excel spreadsheet, if appropriate.

1a) How many open referrals does the service have for ADULTS?

1b) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for LESS than 18 weeks?

1c) Of those open referrals, how many have open for MORE than 18 weeks?

1d) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for MORE than 52 weeks?

1e) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘low need’ (per NHS Wheelchair Data Collection definition)?

1f) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘medium need’?

1g) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘high need’?

1h) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘specialist need’?

1i) Of those open referrals, how many are for powered wheelchairs?

 

2a) How many open referrals does the service have for CHILDREN/YOUNG PEOPLE?

2b) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for LESS than 18 weeks?

2c) Of those open referrals, how many have open for MORE than 18 weeks?

2d) Of those open referrals, how many have been open for MORE than 52 weeks?

2e) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘low need’ (per NHS Wheelchair Data Collection definition)?

2f) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘medium need’?

2g) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘high need’?

2h) Of those open referrals, how many are ‘specialist need’?

2i) Of those open referrals, how many are for powered wheelchairs?

Our response:

Please see the links below:

FOI 407-2025 Adults

FOI 407-2025 Children-Young Adults

Next steps:

Should you have any queries in relation to our response, please do not hesitate to contact us. If you are unhappy with the response you have received in relation to your request and wish to ask us to review our response, you should write to:

Louise Moss
Head of Legal Services / Associate Director of Corporate Governance
c/o Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
Edward Jenner Court
1010 Pioneer Avenue
Gloucester Business Park
Brockworth, GL3 4AW
E-mail: louise.moss@ghc.nhs.uk

If you are not content with the outcome of any review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for further advice/guidance. Generally, the ICO will not consider your case unless you have exhausted your enquiries with the Trust which should include considering the use of the Trust’s formal complaints procedure. The ICO can be contacted at: The Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.