What issues did the author face with AJM Healthcare's wheelchair service?

The author's referral was closed for missing one call, and his received wheelchair was ill-fitting and unsafe, requiring a private physiotherapist's intervention.

How do private companies like AJM profit from NHS contracts?

AJM Healthcare reported £5.8m profit after tax, with critics suggesting private firms exploit local monopolies and long contracts, lacking competition incentives.

What are the risks of poorly prescribed wheelchairs from NHS services?

Poorly prescribed wheelchairs can lead to pressure sores, musculoskeletal deformities, and hospital readmissions, as patients struggle with mobility and comfort.

Home / Health / Paralysed man denied wheelchair in NHS 'lottery'

Paralysed man denied wheelchair in NHS 'lottery'

2 Dec

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Summary

Paralysed man's referral closed for not answering one phone call.
Private wheelchair providers face criticism for profit and poor service.
Patients with money bypass system for faster, better equipment.

Paralysed man denied wheelchair in NHS 'lottery'

A severe climbing accident in June 2023 resulted in paralysis for a former university lecturer, plunging him into a frustrating world of NHS disability services. His initial attempt to engage with his local wheelchair service was met with immediate closure of his referral after he missed one phone call, despite being hospitalised and immobile. This incident marked the beginning of a difficult journey through a system described as a 'lottery' of private providers contracted by the NHS.

The article details how these private companies, such as AJM Healthcare, can generate significant profits (£5.8m after tax for AJM in the year to April 2024) while offering subpar services. Many patients, including the author and others like Ben (37), face long waiting times, receive ill-fitting or inappropriate equipment, and are sometimes forced to misrepresent their needs to secure essential mobility aids. This reliance on private providers often creates local monopolies with little incentive for improvement.