11/01/08 - Sunrise Medical to pull out of Dundee

The Scottish Disability Equality Forum is disappointed that the one major wheelchair manufacturers has announced that it is pulling out of Scotland from its Dundee base with the loss of nearly 100 jobs.�

This company, Sunrise Medical, is a major supplier to the NHS Wheelchair Service in Scotland. It is understood that although this will not make any difference to customers in moving production elsewhere - probably to the Far East - it will in effect.� Distance from the customers does make a difference, especially when this company claimed to be able to supply customised wheelchairs within a fortnight. Users of the NHS Wheelchairs Service can wait several months for a customised wheelchair and in some instances up to or beyond a year. Often equipment provided does not meet users’ and carers’ needs.

For years the NHS Wheelchair and Special Seating Service has been starved of funds such that clinicians have had to ration and the type of wheelchair supplied. The Scottish Government has pledged an extra �4M for next year 2007/8. However, this represents about �40 per user and hardly pays for a set of tyres, let alone providing a wheelchair which meets the needs of users and carers.

The NHS Wheelchair Service is a major customer and as such is looking for the most basic wheelchair at the cheapest price given the limited funds that the NHS Wheelchair Services have. It is no wonder given the tight margins that manufactures have to work to that Sunrise Medical say that “they have worked in a very, very tough manufacturing environment—all parts of Sunrise Medical have done their best to compete against taking jobs abroad. You have to look at UK manufacturing as a whole. It is an unbelievably hard business to run in the UK.”�

Given the tight margins manufacturers have to work to in supplying wheelchairs under contract to the NHS in Scotland there is little or no room for innovative development or research for improved design.

The Scottish Government has an opportunity to review its policy making decisions and to appreciate the knock-on effect both to manufacturers in Scotland, to wheelchair users and carers; to maintaining jobs and industry in Scotland. We hope you will support us in our efforts to improve the provision of wheelchairs in Scotland and share our concerns that supply of a vital piece of equipment is being distanced from users.

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