Based on the linked source; automatically prepared and checked against the original report.
National spatial analysis
Researchers analysed 43,790 NHS-registered wheelchair users across all 1,917 Lower Layer Super Output Areas in Wales. The cross-sectional ecological study examined whether local concentrations were associated with deprivation, rather than assessing individual causes or treatment outcomes. Local Moran’s I identified statistically significant High-High clusters.
Deprivation patterns
The analysis identified 110 High-High clusters, with 41% located in the most deprived overall Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile. Significant deprivation gradients appeared across six domains. Health and Employment showed the strongest associations, with most-to-least deprived wheelchair-user ratios of 1.747 and 1.738, respectively, and up to 20-fold greater odds of cluster membership in the most deprived quintile.
Implications and variation
Housing and Access to Services showed different patterns, with clusters concentrated in moderately deprived areas rather than areas experiencing the highest deprivation. The researchers concluded that wheelchair-user clustering was strongly associated with socioeconomic deprivation, but varied by domain. They said the findings could support NHS wheelchair-service commissioning that better reflects geographic need.
