Mobility shops in Greater Manchester are helping Stockport NHS Foundation and its therapy team in its appeal for no longer used walking aids to be returned so they can be re-used and cut down on waste by agreeing to be used as centres to hand the items in.

Unused walking aids such as metal crutches, metal walking sticks, or a wheeled metal walking aid, are urged to be handed into one of the mobility shops helping the cause for re-use.

Walking aids can be returned to the various mobility shops in Stockport, such as: Stepping Hill Hospital – Outpatient Therapy Department, A6 Mobility Shop, Ableworld, Millercare and the Wheelchair Service.

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Thousands of walking aids are given to patients each year, usually from the trust’s physiotherapy and occupational therapy services based at Stepping Hill Hospital. They are an important part of helping patients mobility and recovery, but hundreds of these are not returned, despite many only being prescribed for temporary use.

The trust spends around £50,000 each year on new walking aids, much of which could be spent on staff and facilities. Even damaged items can often be repaired at a lesser cost.

Commenting on the reuse of medical equipment in 2018, Health Minister Steve Barclay said: “In too many instances medical equipment is being used once and then thrown away at a time when the public is increasingly aware of the impact of waste on the environment.

“Patients should be able to return the countless pairs of perfectly good crutches sitting unused in the corner of living rooms across the country and know they will be put to good use helping others, either in the NHS or elsewhere through charity donations.”

“It is not only the kind of creativity and common sense the public wants to see from the NHS, but will also help ensure equipment is used in an environmentally friendly way and that taxpayers’ money is spent wisely – a crucial part of our long-term plan for the NHS.”

Walking aids only are wanted, and so toileting equipment, kitchen trolleys and perching stools should not be returned. Anyone who still needs their walking aid should of course keep them to use.

Stepping Hill Hospital is located in Stockport, Greater Manchester.

Recently, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust launched a campaign at hospitals across mid and south Essex to help make it easier for people to return unused walking aids, such as crutches, walking sticks and walking frames.

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