What can we do with this supply of catheterisation items?

I despair at the lack of understanding of the potential risks, despite it being explained several times. Here is the AI overview.

‘The NHS cannot accept most returned supplies, particularly licensed medicinal products (LMPs) and consumable items like paper, due to strict regulations, hygiene risks, and the cost of processing returns versus the value of the items. However, the NHS does accept certain equipment, such as walking aids, which are then professionally cleaned and reissued to other patients.
Reasons for Not Accepting Returns
Licensed Medicinal Products (LMPs):
Regulations set by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and EU rules for the Wholesale Distribution of Medicines prevent the resale or redistribution of these products.
Hygiene and Safety:
Many supplies are either single-use consumables or have been in patient homes, posing an infection control risk if they were to be redistributed.
Cost-Effectiveness:
For low-value items, the cost of collecting, processing, and cleaning them for reuse can outweigh their monetary value.
Specific Regulations:
Some items, like banisters or fixed adaptations, are considered permanent fixtures and are not designed to be returned for reuse. ‘
Imagine a situation where a patient gets a serious infection from a non sterile dressings pack, or food poisoning from a pierced drinks container that had previously been issued to somebody else. If that was you or a relative would you be happy?

I posted on here early last year about plastic bottles of food supplement drinks the GP surgery gave us. There was approx £240 worth and they were all sealed, then in strong cardboard trays, then covered in strong plastic. There was no way they could have been tampered with and I had only had them a couple of hours. As it was winter I put them out in our cold summerhouse. The surgery told me to throw them away as they could not take them back.

I thought that was an absolutely shocking waste of NHS money.
We had a physio assistant visiting and I told her and she agreed. She filled her boot with them and promised me she would give them to patients who really needed them.

I had the same situation a few years ago when my dh had the wrong size pads delivered. I rang within the hour and they refused to pick them up to exchange and told me to throw them away. All individually packed in seiatate sealed bags, I was furious about the waste and tried the local hospice which was very grateful. This happened a second time and I took them to the same hospice who were very pleased.

Google Medigive or Hospices of Hope. They both accept medical equipment. Unfortunately you will have to pay to post them, unless you live nearby.

You can't give away...even the slightest damage can render them non sterile....a terrible risk of infection to people...do as you've been advised....all in the bin

Catheters can’t be used by anybody other than the person to who they have been issued, because they are sterile, and there is a risk of packets being pierced or damaged, and the seal broken. The same applies to dressings, and any other surgical supplies. The NHS does not deliberately waste them.

It is dreadful that such a waste of resources is encouraged.

Have you thought about contacting volunteers who organise aid supplies going to Ukraine? The local contact here was looking for some items last week.

Nanny123 in answer to the duvet coming off I sleep in a sleeping bag under the duvet and they re easy to get out of with the zip facing the door, could he manage that ?

And the same with orthotic items. My husband was fitted for a shoulder/arm support on the NHS. It was a very poor fit despite the hospital measuring him. We googled the manufacturer and these cost around £200. He wore it twice in the house and it was pretty useless.

We went back to Orthotics Dept got measured again and reordered a different style. I rang in advance to ask if I should return the first one (still in box) and was told to just dump it as they could not reuse it.

Btw, these were one use, disposable catheters, no bag involved. Not sure we’re discussing the same things.

My DH used these. He died leaving a large supply behind which I knew the surgery would dispose of. I got in touch with the supplier, (who sent them directly to us, charged to the surgery) and they took them back. They send them to less developed countries who need them.
I absolutely hate this waste when someone can use them. These items were all still in untouched, sealed packages.

Same with colostomy bags. My Mum had bowel cancer and a stoma and used colostomy bags which were cut to size for her so no good for anybody else. My Mum was very conscious about not wasting anything and only ordered when she needed to.

The Stoma Nurse told me that she regularly visits homes where people have amassed £2,000 to £3,000 worth of bags, plus even more for adhesive spray, wipes, scented sprays, disposal bags etc. She said it makes her so cross and the NHS really needs to sort this out because millions are being wasted. She says people should only be allowed to order sufficient for their needs.

I have the portable type, no good once by sell by. I just mine in the recycle box.
It’s a shame if yours are still in date- I hate waste.

Someone could have tampered with them. It is not safe to use passed on supplies.Clearly I do not think singing nutty has tampered with them!

Why would someone need them on Freecycle as like yourselves people have huge supplies given to them? I know it is such a waste of money. This is where the NHS is falling down and wasting money, supplies should be able to be ordered in smaller amounts for patients who are not going to be long-term users.
I would write to your MP and ask him to flag this up with the health minister though. I don't think it will make a difference but I do think health boards could get their suppliers to be more flexible in the amounts they order.

Hello

Sadly my son in law has motor neurone disease and it’s taken away his ability to use his arms and hands.

The problem he is facing at the moment is now the colder weather is coming in he is having problems going to the toilet especially at night

He is unable to pull down and up his trousers (he wears elastic wasted ones) at night he has problems going to the toilet especially the colder weather is coming in and wants to wear warmer pj’s as he is waking up cold due to the duvet falling off and he unable to pull it up again

Some high street stores are starting to do aided clothing but nothing in the line he desperately needs help with

Any suggestions as how to help him would be really appreciated

Thank you

Sadly no - all in the bin.
The pharmacy was even reluctant to take back unopened meds.

What a waste.

I think there’s a GN who says things can be sent abroad, but I might be mistaken.