The research, entitled Putting the Wheels in Motion, highlighted the charity’s role as the UK's largest provider of wheelchairs over short periods, having lent out 83,000 in 2014.
It also warned that there was further unmet need as well as unclear rules on who was entitled to a wheelchair and which government body was responsible.
Head of Advocacy at British Red Cross, Jonathan Ellis, expressed his pride that the charity could offer support, but also called for a clearer understanding of the gaps in state services.
Speaking at the event, he said: “If your need is longer term, you will get support from the NHS or the local authority for a wheelchair, but it’s that short term provision of less than six months that you will probably not get… we are really proud that the Red Cross tries to step up in that case.
“The issue that we are facing today is that there is no clearly defined statutory provision around this issue. There is statutory confusion as to what service, if any, should be provided around short-term wheelchair provision.
“At the Red Cross we have a clear humanitarian vision; quite simply that anybody who needs a short-term wheelchair should get it as quickly and as easily as they can for as long as they need.”
The report gives details of case studies of the life-changing benefits that this service can deliver, and many of the guests recounted personal experiences of needing wheelchair access for themselves or a family member
One of those was Conservative MP Graham Evans, who said: “I had a relative who had muscular dystrophy and we campaigned for easy accessibility of wheelchairs via the NHS, back in the 1960s and 70s. It is interesting that getting a wheelchair just generally, in the short-term and in the medium-term, is still an issue… to me it is not personally a surprise.”
Mr Evans added that he was “very impressed” with what the British Red Cross were doing to meet the demand of those in need.
Another parliamentarian offering support was Baroness Greengross, who also spoke at the event.
She said “Whether you are a permanent user or a short-term user, when you need a wheelchair you think Red Cross straight away. So it’s very important that the work succeeds in every way and I am a great supporter.
“I wish you every success in what you are doing, now and in the future because we all depend on the Red Cross,” she added.
The charity hopes the findings will stimulate debate and secure change that will make access to a wheelchair a right not a privilege.