Status: Individual prior approval
Effective date: 1 April 2026
Next review date: 1 April 2031
Essex ICB provides funding for Riser Recliner Chairs on a restricted basis.
In the majority of cases, specialist adaptations can be made to fit the existing seating in a patient’s home to achieve correct postural management or pressure relief. It is recognised that not all standard domestic chairs are suitable for adaptations e.g. pressure relieving overlays may render a chair too high for transfers and that some patients will need to buy suitable standard furniture. Riser recliner chairs are considered to be furniture and are available to purchase from high street stores.
NHS funding for a riser recliner will not usually be made available when there is a profiling bed in-situ or provision planned or only because a patient has unsuitable furniture and will not be funded for personal comfort alone. Specialist height adjustments, use of a footstool, posture management or pressure relieving solutions can be added to existing furniture to meet specific needs. Patients with oedematous legs or specific pressure care needs will not automatically be eligible.
Essex ICB will only fund a riser recliner chair where no other solution can safely meet a genuine healthcare need, so that the patient can sit out for periods of two hours or more and is required to support mobilisation and maintain a level of independence.
It is the responsibility of the applying clinician to provide full information to support the application for funding, demonstrating that the patient:
- has a genuine healthcare need for a riser recliner which cannot be safely met by any other solution and
- can sit out for periods of two hours or more and
- the riser recliner is required to support mobilisation and maintain a level of independence and
- the patient agrees to use the chair regularly to optimise their health outcomes
Applications for funding will be considered on a case-by-case basis upon receipt of a fully completed proforma.
Patients not meeting the above criteria will not be funded unless there are clinically exceptional circumstances.
Individual funding requests should only be made where the patient demonstrates clinical exceptionality.
Further information on applying for funding in exceptional clinical circumstances can be found on the ICB website.