NHS Waste of money and resources

Lazigirl ???

I borrowed aids from a neighbour who had also undergone hip replacement surgery; except for a wheeled trolley for transporting my meals from the kitchen. That came from local Social Services who came and took it back. I am sure it wasn't new because it showed signs of wear and I hope it went on to be reused many times.

After my replacement hip, I took back to the hospital where I was treated, my walking frame and hospital walking stick, both of which were received with gratitude. My other equipment was not required, so I've put them away for a later date!!!!!

The NHS does waste an awful lot of money. It would seem impossible that recycling is too expensive, but it depends on which budget the cost come from. That is one problem, there is no overall planning, everything is very short term.

Same her when my mum died we were told to take items to the tip.

When I came home after 5 weeks in Hospital with Pneumonia I was provided with a raised toilet seat & shower stool. Other equipment was brought which was not suitable for my small home. All was provided by the local Hospital & I was informed that I could not return any items even if they were unused. I could not have a "perching stool" or a "wheeled trolley", as these could not be used the OT took them back to the Hospital with her.

I did return a zimmer frame to a Hospital many years ago. It does vary from area to area & also which organisation supplies the aids.

I think many hospitals have a special equipment department, separate from the hospital, that loans out wheelchairs etc. It's not the actual ward / hospital. They probably didn't want it at the hospital but didn't direct you to the proper department. We returned our mothers equipment successfully, to two different hospital trusts as she moved in with up with some 'equipment'.

Millbrook Healthcare have a campaign going relevant to this: www.millbrook-healthcare.co.uk/useful-stuff/service-users/equipment-return/

The Red Cross might be grateful for them.

Is there a Disability Partnership in your area Gill? Here in Cheshire the wonderful people at the charity recycle and make very good use of donated aids. (They also run a beautiful walled garden site selling plants, handicrafts, upcycled furniture and even brilliant, restored bikes - my old neighbour, a retired engineer, gives his time and energy to the restorations). Not saving the NHS any money but at least it's something very positive and useful coming out of a bonkers, wasteful policy. And why can't the equipment be refurbished and tested similar to the pat testing for used electrical goods then there would be no negligence issues/claims?

In central Scotland we have a company called equipU who provide and collect aids to daily living that have been requested by the patients care team. You phone their number when you are finished with the item and they come. They scrub and sterilise the equipment to a very high standard making them look like new. The service covers 6 councils plus Greater Glasgow and the Clyde Valley.

Off the point slightly, we are trying to sell my Mum's very expensive wheelchair. They cost over £2000 new and this has been used very little. Cannot even get an offer on eBay! Is it the same issue of not wanting to reuse I wonder?

'Look after the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves'. Why spend money replacing equipment of any sort when it can be re used?

IMO this is an example of financial waste.

Our equipment comes from NRS here (Nottingham Rehab Supplies). I had 3 different shower chairs in my garage at one point that I could not get them to take back(one I must have had for at least 8 years!) They eventually did agree to take them but the driver said they would likely be dumped - shocking really as they were perfectly useable but just not suitable for our particular needs. I asked the nurses if the wards at the hospital would like them (theirs were very very basic models and these were much nicer) but she said they wouldn’t be allowed to. Terrible waste.

GillT57 Same here. Maybe they don't have the staff or facilities to re-use items?

HootyMcOwlface Exactly what happened to me.

JaneD3 Is it still on eBay? I could take a look...

When my mum died they couldn’t come and collect the stuff quick enough even though my dad was still alive and may have needed the items in fact they took back more than they had given my mum as they took back a shower seat that belonged to my brother,which my dad didn’t realise until it was too late ?

Our local NHS does ask for all aids back if not needed but the city also has a Carers' Centre that has a free service of online 'small ads' for any such items. Very useful and much cheaper than new.

What about offering them to a nursing home?

I recognise this situation. Following the death of my mil we were left with various living aids and also dozens of protein milkshakes and juices. All were in date, unopened and in their original packing. The local pharmacy advised us to dispose of them as they were unable to accept them back. We also had approximately 20 unopened boxes of incontinence pads. Again, all non returnable. I contacted a local care home for the elderly who were very happy and grateful to receive all the items. It would have been a terrible waste of resources and money to have taken them to the tip so we were pleased to have found them a home.

Here in Portugal, although the NHS service is excellent, aids are not provided at all you have to buy them yourself. Many Portuguese could only afford to buy the most basic things. We made sure Mum had all she needed and after she died we kept most of the things as we will no doubt need them ourselves at some time. One of her commodes and the wheelchair are regularly lent to friends when they have elderly relatives to visit.

I was given a huge amount of disability aids. Some from the hospital and some later delivered by NRS. When I no longer needed them, a quick phone call to NRS resulted in a van driver collecting everything a few days later. He said that everything would be reused. I can’t understand why anyone should be told to take these valuable things to the tip!

I don't recognise this problem either. When my mum died aged 95 recently all her aids were collected by the community loan service who were responsible fo supplying them within a week. Even the kitchen perching stool which she had had for over 10 years. I suggest GillT57 that you get in touch with the hospital authorities and ask why they don't have a recycling scheme similar to those operating in many areas.

Here we may be the near bankrupt state as we have been asked to return everything and anything that could be reused. Sensible anyway, yet it did not happen for many years. Bureaucracy has been the main stumbling block I believe because nothing can happen before they get around to "making it work". If only.