Home / Health / Disabled Teen Waits Over a Year for Vital Wheelchair Amid NHS Backlog
Disabled Teen Waits Over a Year for Vital Wheelchair Amid NHS Backlog
10 Sep
Summary
- 16-year-old Mylo has been waiting over a year for a new wheelchair
- Wheelchair request was accepted in July 2024 but still not fulfilled
- Wheelchair is crucial for Mylo's independence and quality of life
As of September 10, 2025, a 16-year-old boy in Derbyshire, Mylo, has been waiting over a year for a new wheelchair due to a backlog in the NHS supply system. Mylo, who was born with spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and other conditions, has used a wheelchair for more than four years.
In July 2024, Mylo's request for a new power wheelchair was accepted by AJM Healthcare, the company providing wheelchairs to NHS patients in Derbyshire at the time. However, Mylo's mother, Sophie Elliott, says she has received "no news" on her son's order since then, even after Blatchford Mobility took over the service in April 2025.
Blatchford has acknowledged inheriting a "large backlog" and says it has reduced the waiting list by 30% since the transition. However, Mrs. Elliott emphasizes the importance of Mylo having the right equipment for his independence and quality of life, stating that he has "missed out on a lot of things" due to the delays.
The NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board has apologized for the long wait times and says it is working with Blatchford to address the issue and improve access to wheelchairs. Blatchford also recognizes that more needs to be done to further reduce the waiting times.
