Community Equipment & Wheelchair Service
Market Context
Somerset Council jointly commissions an integrated Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service (CEWS) with NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board (NHS Somerset ICB).
CEWS provides equipment to adults and children living in their own home to support them to maintain or increase their independence, and support carers in their roles. Examples of the types of community equipment supplied include:
- Walking – walking frames, sticks, etc.
- Beds – specialised beds, mattresses and accessories.
- Hoists – including ceiling track hoists.
- Mobility Equipment – mobile or fixed hoists, lifting aids and moving and handling equipment.
- Toileting – commodes, shower seats, raised toilet seats.
- Seating – standard and specialised chairs and seating
- Wheelchairs
- Technology Enabled Care
Equipment can be provided to support an urgent and non-urgent hospital discharge, or be provided following an assessment of need for someone in the community.
Somerset Council and NHS Somerset ICB have an established contract for the provision of the equipment with Medequip Assistive Technology, which commenced on 1st August 2022.
The contract includes the delivery, collection, cleaning, maintenance/testing and refurbishment of the equipment.
The contract is for an initial period of 5 years, with the option to extend for a further 2 years. We will publish details of our intentions though our Pipeline Notice in due course.
Market Rating
Market Quality: Good, however, the market nationally is limited to a relatively small number of providers which presents risks in itself.
Market Supply: Stable
Demand: Increasing
Commissioner ambitions: To increase the number of people that equipment enables to remain living in their own home.
Market workforce: Stable
Market maturity: Mature
Current market status
A procurement process was undertaken for this service in 2021/22. This process identified that there was a relatively small market (in terms of the number of providers) for this type of service nationally. This position has been confirmed as continuing by subsequent reviews of the market.
Market Data
All data is as at 31/03/2025
| Spend during 2024/25 | £8,671,110 |
| Operational Activity (Community Equipment Only) | 1st April 24 - 31 March 25 (Projected) |
|---|---|
| People who have accessed the service | 28,877 |
| Number of delivery activities | 22,520 |
| Equipment items delivered | 96,113 |
| Number of collection activities | 9,151 |
| Equipment items collected | 80,729 |
| Number of items serviced | 7,504 |
| Average percentage of equipment collected and returned to shelf | 85% |
Distance from desired commissioning objectives
The strategic vision for CEWS is a collaborative service model working with system partners to ensure that people feel safe in their homes and communities, enabling them to live independently and reducing the need for health and social care support. The service aims to provide timely, responsive, and flexible support, placing the needs of the individual, carer and family member at the heart of the service.
The CEWS service is currently facing significant challenges, primarily due to financial pressures resulting from increasing levels of activity which has resulted in mechanisms being put in place to monitor prescribers’ habits to ensure they order equipment appropriately. Somerset is dedicated to transitioning care from hospital to home, which is anticipated to increase demand further over the coming years, in alignment with the current contractual procurement cycle.
Market Risks
- The market is stable overall, but external factors, such as tariffs, could have an impact.
- While work is taking place to monitor prescriber habits, there remains an ongoing risk related to the habits of some prescribers.
- While the market is mature and stable, this is primarily due to there being a relatively small number of providers of this type of service nationally, which results in quality, financial, contractual and market failure risks.
Current areas of focus for commissioners as per the CEWS Strategy 24/26
- Managing the financial pressures within the service by testing changes in processes and procedures.
- To instigate a review and evaluation of the CEWS service to understand the benefits for the individuals who use the service and wider Somerset health and care system. The service should be seen as a key enabler to delivering Somerset’s strategic ambitions (enabling people to live as independently for as long as possible and shifting care from ‘hospital to home’).
- Reviewing (incl. benchmarking) the baseline budget to ensure it is appropriate moving forwards, particularly given the strategic context.