British Healthcare Trades Association

12/10/2026

Tender opportunity 🔔
BHTA members involved in accessible bathrooms and home adaptations are encouraged to review Newcastle City Council’s tender for bathroom refurbishments and the supply and installation of minor aids and adaptations.

🔗 https://www.bhta.com/newcastle-bathroom-adaptations-minor-aids-tender/

The deadline for enquiries is 12pm on 30 October 2026. Tenders must be submitted by 12pm on 5 November 2026.

08/10/2026

NHS Supply Chain (NHSSC) has announced six periods of industrial action by Unite members employed as drivers by its logistics provider, GXO, following a pay dispute. Read more:

NHSSC GXO strikes are planned for October and November 2026. View strike dates and potential delivery disruption.

05/10/2026

Tender opportunity 🔔
BHTA members involved in home adaptations and specialist equipment are encouraged to review a tender from Shropshire Towns and Rural Housing (STAR Housing) for its ‘Major Works and Repairs Framework’. The opportunity includes accessibility adaptations within major refurbishment programmes, alongside internal and external adaptations and specialist equipment delivered through a dedicated Healthy Homes service.

🔗 https://www.bhta.com/star-housing-home-adaptations-tender/

The deadline for enquiries is 11:59pm on 28 October 2026. Submit a request to participate electronically through the eSourcing Data supplier portal by 12pm on 3 November 2026.

01/10/2026

BHTA member Permobil has issued a Field Safety Notice, dated 8 July 2026, concerning certain M5 Corpus power wheelchairs. The manufacturer is carrying out a voluntary field correction after identifying that a function intended to prevent driving in specific seating conditions was missing from the affected firmware.

The notice covers a limited number of wheelchairs manufactured between 19 January 2024 and 19 May 2025 with Power Platform firmware versions 1.27 through 1.57.

Find out more: https://www.bhta.com/field-safety-notice-issued-for-permobil-m5-corpus-power-wheelchairs/

30/09/2026

Missed our sustainability webinar? You can now catch up on demand.

With NHS England Carbon Reduction Plan requirements from 2027 and product-level carbon footprinting from 2028, suppliers need to be thinking about how they will prepare.

In this BHTA webinar, James Hay from Pinsent Masons and Jennine Watts from BlueBlaze.Earth discuss how businesses can approach the requirements as part of a joined-up sustainability programme.

The session covers practical considerations including:

♻️ Supply-chain mapping
📊 Data quality
📋 Governance and assurance
💷 Managing compliance costs
🌍 Preparing for product carbon footprinting

If your organisation supplies the NHS, this is a useful session to revisit as you plan for the requirements ahead.

▶️ Watch the webinar on demand:
https://www.bhta.com/bhta-sustainability-webinar-from-nhs-carbon-reduction-plans-to-product-carbon-footprints-2/

29/09/2026

A new tender opportunity from Cirrus Consortium includes home adaptation products and assistive alarm systems within its seven-lot materials supply framework.

Three lots cover products relevant to BHTA members, including grab rails, ramps, level-access shower trays, raised toilet seats, assistive alarm systems, and emergency pull cords.

The deadline for bids is 12pm on 9 November 2026.

BHTA members can exclusively access the full tender details on the BHTA website: https://www.bhta.com/cirrus-consortium-adaptation-products-tender/

28/09/2026

Chiltern Railways is inviting bids for a £1.5 million contract covering portable train access ramps for wheelchair users and other passengers with reduced mobility.

The opportunity includes the design, supply, installation, inspection, maintenance, and repair of ramps, with optional training services.

BHTA members can read the full tender details on the BHTA website: https://www.bhta.com/chiltern-railways-access-ramps-tender/

25/09/2026

The Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a National Patient Safety Alert to reduce the risk of death and serious harm from falls involving patient hoists and slings. Read here:

MHRA patient hoist safety alert: key actions for equipment providers and care organisations to prevent harm, with completion required by 16 September 2027.

25/09/2026

Tender opportunity 🔔
BHTA members involved in home adaptations and accessible housing are encouraged to review a new tender opportunity from the Northern Ireland Housing Executive for major adaptation construction works.

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is seeking two suitably qualified and competent contractors to deliver major adaptations to homes for people with disabilities across its South Region, covering the South, Mid-Ulster, and South West areas.

🔗 https://www.bhta.com/northern-ireland-major-adaptations-tender/

Tenders must be submitted electronically through the eTendersNI portal by 11.59pm on 7 October 2026.

24/09/2026

The Health Bill completed its House of Commons stages on 8 September, following two days of Report Stage debate covering medical device regulation, NHS structures, procurement, commissioning, community services, and social care.

During the 7 September debate, MPs considered NHS procurement, integrated care boards (ICBs), community equipment, and wheelchair services. The 8 September debate brought further developments, including new provisions covering medical device regulation.

Several developments across the two days are particularly relevant to BHTA members. Read here:

Key developments from the Health Bill debate for BHTA members, including medical device regulation, NHS procurement, ICBs, and community equipment.