London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust which runs Ealing Hospital, Central Middlesex Hospital and Harrow’s Northwick Park Hospital is reminding patients to return walking aids they on longer need.
According to the Trust, £40,000 a year is spent on replacing equipment that is not returned. They say the walking aids could then be cleaned and recycled for others to use which would help save money.
The appeal comes 18 months after the Trust first revealed the cost of not returning equipment.
In February 2023, Victoria Manson, principal lead musculoskeletal and pelvic health physiotherapist, at Northwick Park Hospital said: “We do have a shortage of crutches, frames and walking sticks. This means it can be a struggle to provide patients with the support they need, which in some cases can lead to discharge being held up. It costs tens of thousands of pounds a year to replace walking aids.”
Ms Manson added: “We’d really appreciate it if people can have a check at home and return any aids they have. That will allow us to clean them up and re-use/recycle them for other people to use.”
Patients no longer using their walking aids which include metal Zimmer frame, crutches, or walking sticks are asked to return them to Ealing Hospital – Level 1 Orange Wing, Physiotherapy department.
Only those walking aids are required as wooden walking sticks and commodes will not be accepted.
