Now NHS begs: Give us back our crutches

HOSPITALS have been ordered to reuse crutches, wheelchairs and walking frames after The Mail on Sunday highlighted a ‘disposable’ culture costing taxpayers millions.

Our investigation revealed mountains of mobility aids, many of which appeared to be in nearpristine condition, languishing in skips across Britain.

Now the NHS is asking people to return their aids after Health Minister Stephen Barclay urged hospitals to do more to reuse them.

The NHS in England is thought to spend about £18 million a year on crutches, walking sticks and frames. A total of £3 million goes on crutches alone, which cost £17 a pair, but only a fifth are ever returned to medical staff.

Mr Barclay said many patients were ‘hugely frustrated’ by not being able to return them, leading to extra cost and needless waste.

He recalled: ‘My father had a hip replacement operation and had an armchair that was given as part of the recovery. And then the local NHS said to him, “Oh, we don’t need it back, just keep it.” ’

Mr Barclay added: ‘Patients should be able to return the countless pairs of perfectly good crutches sitting unused in the corners of living rooms across the country and know they will be put to good use helping others.’

Equipment will be checked to ensure it is still safe and usable before being re-issued.

Our investigation found patients were routinely turned away when they wanted to bring back costly items. Hospital staff often told them they could not reuse the aids, most of which are made of metal, for fear they might be defective or ‘infected’ – and the NHS might get sued.

In some places, however, NHS managers set up collection schemes themselves. South West Yorkshire NHS Trust saved £330,000 a year by reusing equipment.