A PARLIAMENTARY inquiry into the provision of special equipment to people with disabilities has heard alarming evidence about delays and red tape.

In one case, a young man due to start his Higher School Certificate exams later this month is still without a power wheelchair two years after he was first assessed.

Equipment supply company owner Greg Kline told the inquiry the delay had been so lengthy the original wheelchair recommended for the student was no longer in production.

Lidia Armorgenis told the inquiry her son Nicholas was dependent on her or others to push his manual wheelchair.

"It's too long to wait," she said. "He is upset because he wants to be more mobile but he needs to be pushed, so he's stuck."

Mr Kline said payments from the Health Department were too little, too late, with a $300,000 debt only recently reduced to $100,000.

The inquiry also heard people using ventilators to help them breathe could not get them replaced until they failed and single-use tube feeding equipment was being washed in household kitchens and hung in the sun to dry because new ones were not available.

Peter Talbot, of the Dietitians' Association of Australia, said patients were at risk of infections.

Wendy Hall, of Northcott Disability Services, said the government should fund vehicle modifications because transport was vital for families with disabled members.

Health Minister John Della Bosca told The Sun-Herald there had been problems with the "efficiency and fairness" of the provision of equipment for the disabled. It took time to provide complex equipment, but the Government was determined to make the process more efficient, he said.

"NSW Health provides loan equipment wherever possible to assist a person waiting for specialist equipment," he said.

Funding for the program had doubled since 2001 with $25.6million provided this year. As well, the state and federal governments were providing an extra $11million. Mr Della Bosca said about 19,000 people would benefit from the program this year.

lcarty@fairfax.com.au