Remi has been using a wheelchair for more than five years, but her mother says the decision to withdraw it puts her at serious risk. Alex Doyle's seven-year-old daughter, who is autistic, was told by bosses from Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust that she no longer qualifies for the mobility equipment. According to BBC News, the 37-year-old from Knowsley has criticised the move as "heartless" and says it will affect hundreds of families across the region.
Doyle explained that her daughter requires the wheelchair because she has "no sense of danger" and would run into the road without it. The chair also serves as a "safe haven" in crowded or noisy environments, where children with autism can experience sensory overload. She added that Remi's current wheelchair is now too small, but under the new rules she will not receive a replacement.
The trust acknowledged the importance of mobility equipment but said it was continually reviewing individual cases. Mersey Care's updated eligibility criteria went live on 1 April 2026, introducing stricter rules about who qualifies for wheelchair provision. The new framework excludes people who can walk safely indoors and need a wheelchair only for outdoor, social or occasional use.
What has changed in the eligibility rules?
The trust's revised criteria mean that children who walk safely indoors without a physical mobility impairment no longer qualify for a wheelchair, even if they need one for safety or independence outside the home. Mersey Care says the changes are intended to prioritise people with the greatest clinical need and improve waiting times for complex seating and assessments. However, Doyle said the decision ignores the reality of her daughter's condition, which has not changed since Remi was two years old.
How widespread is this issue?
Multiple families have been contacted by the NHS to inform them that the criteria have changed, according to Doyle, who believes the decision affects hundreds of households. She characterised the move as "penny pinching" and questioned whether cost savings were driving the policy shift rather than clinical judgment. The mother-of-two described the situation as "a nightmare", explaining that she now has to use a safety cord with her daughter when outside to prevent her from running into traffic.
What does Mersey Care say?
A trust spokesperson stated:
We recognise how important the right mobility equipment is to a child's health, independence and family life, and we understand the concerns raised. We continually review our service provision and clinical practice with our children's wheelchair and specialist buggy criteria, aligning with the national NHS wheelchair guidance. We are listening to the concerns raised and will work with families to review individual cases to understand all the options available.
The trust did not directly address whether the new criteria represent a tightening of access or explain the clinical rationale for excluding children who walk safely indoors. NHS England says local wheelchair eligibility criteria remain in place and are the responsibility of integrated care boards, based on local population needs, meaning individual trusts set their own standards.
What happens next?
Mersey Care has said that families who no longer meet the updated criteria will be contacted directly, and that eligible families can self-refer to the service. The trust has invited families to contact them to review individual cases and explore available options, though it remains unclear whether this process will result in reversals of the new eligibility decisions.
This case reflects broader concerns about disability support services in the UK. Parents of disabled children have previously reported fighting for support throughout their children's lives, and families of severely disabled children have expressed fears about the closure of NHS respite centres amid financial pressures.
Key Facts
- Remi, seven, has used a wheelchair for five years but no longer qualifies under Mersey Care's revised criteria, which took effect on 1 April 2026
- The new rules exclude children who can walk safely indoors and need a wheelchair only for outdoor, social or occasional use
- Doyle says the decision affects hundreds of families and that her daughter's condition has not changed since age two
- Mersey Care says the criteria changes are intended to prioritise people with the greatest clinical need and improve waiting times for assessments
- The trust has invited families to contact them to review individual cases and explore available options
