Therapy team at NHS foundation trust continues appeal for unused walking aids to be returned

Stockport NHS Foundation and its therapy team are continuing their appeal for unused walking aids to be returned, so they can be reused and cut down on waste.

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 in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The equipment is an important part of helping patients’ mobility and recovery, but hundreds of the items are not returned, despite many only being for temporary use, according to the trust.

The trust spends around £50,000 each year on new walking aids, much of which could be spent on staff and facilities. Damaged items can often be repaired at a lower cost to replacing the items.

Recycle Now states that walking aids, such as walking sticks, frames, rollators and crutches, can be safely refurbished and reused repeatedly. Boosting return and reuse will improve access for patients, reduce carbon emissions and save money. Over the next three years, the NHS could reduce its carbon emissions by 7.4kt, equivalent to 281,397 car trips from London to Bristol.

Unused walking aids, such as metal crutches, metal walking sticks, or a wheeled metal walking aid, are being requested to hand it in for reuse. Local mobility shops are helping the call by agreeing to be used as centres to hand the items in.

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.

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 keep them, the trust emphasises.

During National Recycle Week in October, a campaign was launched at hospitals across mid and south Essex to make it easier to return no longer used assistive technologies, such as crutches, walking sticks and walking frames.