Presumably "used" crutches would have to be formally stress-tested and documented as such. Records would have to be kept as to how long the crutches had been in circulation, etc, etc. I think the cost would outweigh any benefit.
There is a trend now for a substantial proportion of problems experienced within the NHS being put down to bad practice - too many managers, inefficient use of resources, etc, etc. Having watched the two series of Hospital, it is fairly evident to me that managers are an essential part of allocating resources and solving issues relating to bed space, staffing, special surgical requirements, etc. So far as other personnel are concerned, it seems to me that many of the medical, nursing and other staff go well beyond the call of duty to provide good care to their patients, despite the most challenging circumstances.
Like any other social or commercial operation, there is always room for improvement in terms of efficiency but my view is that the NHS has been messed about with so much - and the amount of money allocated to it has not met increasing demand, so in real terms its money has been cut. knickas, as someone seeing what happens from within, has already mentioned the corrosive effect of contracting out services to private companies.
