Amnesty on missing hospital equipment

Staff at York Hospital are appealing for members of the public to search their attics, garages and sheds for hospital equipment such as wheelchairs, walking sticks and crutches.

Equipment is loaned to patients when they are discharged from hospital to help them continue their recovery at home.

But the hospital says stocks of certain items are now running low because they are not being returned.

Now the amnesty has been launched, with a special collection point set up at the hospital on Wednesday.

Principal therapist Catherine Venable from York Hospital said: “We have set up a special collection point for returned hospital equipment.

“We’d like people to bring back any equipment that’s no longer needed – no questions will be asked, we’d just like it back so that other people can benefit.

“Sometimes when people have had equipment a long time they think it doesn’t matter but we would urge people to return it. We are concerned that some people are hanging on to things just in case and now have out of date or unsafe equipment.

“When equipment comes back to us it is checked, sanitised, repaired where necessary, and re-issued.

“It’s really important that patients have the most appropriate piece of equipment to help their condition.”

Last month, a landmark report warned urgent action is needed to transform health services in North Yorkshire if a massive £230m in efficiency savings is to be delivered.

The study, which has 44 recommendations, predicts that if services in the community fail to meet the challenges ahead the financial situation will become “unsustainable” with potentially “catastrophic” results.