NRS Healthcare encourages mobility aid returns across the UK for Recycle Week
As a part of Recycle Week 2022, independent living aids manufacturer NRS Healthcare is encouraging people with its own labelled mobility aids they no longer need to drop them off at a local household recycling centre and at drop-off bins, so they can then be reused by someone else who needs them.
NRS Healthcare aims to support people to live full, active and independent lives for as long as possible, loaning over 22,000 items of equipment each year on behalf of the council or NHS, to support people in the community.
The firm states that it recycles all the equipment returned, once rigorous decontamination and safety checks have been carried out. This equipment, which can be ready for redistribution in just three days, is then reused for people in the community, not only helping carbon emissions and cutting down on waste to landfill, but also saving the NHS and council thousands of pounds a year.
Paul Haley, who is NRS Healthcare’s Service Manager for Torbay, said: “There is an urgent need for equipment in the local community to free up hospital beds and allow people to live more independent lives. If NRS Healthcare equipment can be returned when no longer required, we can quickly get it to those in need.”
NRS Healthcare is working alongside Doncaster Council and Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH NHS) and Peterborough City Council to carry out the returns initiative.
Councillor Nigel Simons, Cabinet Member for Waste, Street Scene and the Environment at Peterborough City Council, commented: “It’s important that when people don’t need the use of the living aids that they donate them so other people can use them. This will ensure many of our residents can live independently and stay out of formal care settings, which we know improves people’s quality of life.”
Nigel Thacker, Development Director for NRS Healthcare, commented to THIIS: “NRS Healthcare supports tens of thousands of people each year, on behalf of councils and the NHS, by loaning vital equipment to people in the community. When that equipment is no longer needed, it is collected, serviced, maintained and repaired if needed, before being put back in stock ready to be used by those who need it.
“It is a core part of our business, with more than 80 per cent of equipment being recycled, all year round. RecycleWeek is an opportunity for us to remind our service users and their carers or families, that they can return the equipment to us for free, no matter which area they live in. Several of our Integrated Community equipment Services have partnered with their local authorities and NHS Trusts to encourage people to hand back items, which in turn can help others in need.
“As well as helping to save public money and being good for the environment, this enables people to come home from hospital, freeing up hospital beds at a busy time for the NHS, and to live independently.”
According to GOV.UK returning vital equipment when it is no longer required, is not only good for the environment, but also helps save public money.
Recycle Week, which has been taking place since 17th October and runs until 23rd October, takes place annually, with this year’s focus ‘Let’s Get Real’ aiming to challenge perceptions and myths around recycling and contamination to improve recycling behaviours.
Susan Bywaters, Equipment Lead for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “In 2020, the NHS became the first health service in the world to commit to a goal of net zero carbon emissions. It is an ambitious and challenging target, but one that can be helped by all of us taking small actions, and national Recycle Week is one of them.
“Alongside this, the NHS is under immense pressure to care for and support an increasing number of patients in the community with complex needs.
“The Community Equipment Service in Torbay, run by NRS Healthcare, is integral to enabling patients to be cared for in their own home. If you, or your relatives have equipment that is no longer required, we would be grateful if you could please return the equipment so that others may benefit.”
Recently, staff from NRS Healthcare staff in Southampton completed a ‘bed push’, physically pushing an NRS’ community bed through the shopping centre, as part of a fundraising initiative.
