Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust calls on local community to return unused mobility aids
The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is calling on the local community to return unused mobility aids, including crutches and zimmer frames, to help ensure patients have access to essential support for their recovery.
Thousands of mobility equipment items are handed out to patients to support them in their recovery each year, but only a small handful are returned.
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust said that last year, only 38 per cent of all crutches and 15 per cent of zimmer frames were returned. The Trust is spending significant amounts of money on purchasing new equipment to replace the equipment that was not returned.
By returning any borrowed or unused frames and crutches, people can make a significant difference on the well-being of patients requiring mobility assistance, while also helping the Trust save £70,000 each year.
Dom Hardy, Chief Operating Officer at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are spending large amounts of money on purchasing new equipment to replace the lost mobility aids which are not returned to us. This money instead could be used on improving healthcare services at the Trust to help support our patients.”
Individuals can drop off unwanted mobility aids including zimmer frames and crutches to drop-off points at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. These drop-off points can be found at South Block entrance, North Block entrance, and the Main Entrance Reception.
In recent news, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust also launched a walking aids return scheme.
