NHS walking sticks

[PaulSecteur]

I have just moved into a new house. There are 3 metal, height adjustable walking sticks and 2 shower chairs that have been left behind.

Is there anywhere we can take them to be re-used? I would hate to throw them if someone could make use of them.

 

[vickster]

Red Cross? Help the aged or age concern?
Return to the hospital from whence they came if there's a sticker? Try physio or occupational therapy departments?
Ask at your GP surgery or contact local social services?

 

[sight-pin]

The orthopaedic dept at your local hospital maybe interested, worth a call if your stuck.

@vickster beat me too it

 

[ufkacbln]

Local tip!

But, inquire first.... it is known that many will end up here as the patient either no longer needs them or they are found (as in your case)

Our local tip stores them and every couple of weeks they are collected and returned. They are then checked over, cleaned and reissued

 

[Deleted member 26715]

worth a call if your stuck.

But getting through to the right department will be interesting & I suspect frustrating, we had a similar situation with some equipment that had been loaned to my father, he'd lost the paperwork, took about 5 phone calls, but I think in the end it was the Red Cross who ran the loan scheme on behalf of the NHS & they were very grateful to get them back. You could if all else fails fly tip them into A&E somebody would eventually move them.

 

[G3CWI]

I wouldn't take them to the NHS unless they have some sort of NHS stickers on them as I suspect they would get binned; "health and safety". +1 for Age UK or similar.

I used to take magazines into our local hospital until I was stopped and told they would not accept them; "health and safety", "no idea where they have been". Bizarre. So now I bin them.

 

[ufkacbln]

I wouldn't take them to the NHS unless they have some sort of NHS stickers on them as I suspect they would get binned; "health and safety". +1 for Age UK or similar.

I used to take magazines into our local hospital until I was stopped and told they would not accept them; "health and safety", "no idea where they have been". Bizarre. So now I bin them.

We have an "engineer" whose entire role is walking aids.

Most will be re-entered into the supply system and others can be used as spares to replace worn ferrules, a damaged extension etc

 

[PK99]

A pair of Elbow crutches, such as I am using at the moment, would cost me £9.85 plus £4 delivery on the interweb

Bulk buy to a hospital a fraction of that.

An adjustable height walking stick is £6.

Handling, testing, cleaning and sterilising used items would cost more than buying new.

 

[rich p]

Could you play golf with them?

 

[lutonloony]

+1 for Red Cross, some charities collect and send overseas to people that are grateful for any help, and aren't too concerned if the sticks have been "deep cleaned"

 

[CanucksTraveller]

A pair of Elbow crutches, such as I am using at the moment, would cost me £9.85 plus £4 delivery on the interweb

Bulk buy to a hospital a fraction of that.

An adjustable height walking stick is £6.

Handling, testing, cleaning and sterilising used items would cost more than buying new.

Yes, after my wife had foot surgery we'd ended up with two pairs of elbow crutches that were now redundant. When I took them to my nearest hospital I endured a frustrating hour or so trying to find someone that didn't look at me like I was mental. Eventually the physio stores took them, but even they seemed very reluctant. It seems like return and re-use of crutches isn't often done anymore.

 

[vickster]

I was given a pair of crutches at St Georges after I was knocked off my bike. When I went to A&E at St Helier about a week later with the infection, the dr said I shouldn't really be using them and took them off me, presumably to be given to someone he did deem in need.

I was happy to give them back as I already had a pair I'd bought years previously to use after private knee surgery

I did need them it transpired, but all good and only one pair cluttering up the house...which I had to use again. My sister in law has also borrowed them since too

 

[david k]

A pair of Elbow crutches, such as I am using at the moment, would cost me £9.85 plus £4 delivery on the interweb

Bulk buy to a hospital a fraction of that.

An adjustable height walking stick is £6.

Handling, testing, cleaning and sterilising used items would cost more than buying new.

As with many things, shame really

 

[PaulSecteur]

Give them to me for my birthday.

Can you collect from wolverhampton?

 

[Oxo]

Can you collect from wolverhampton?

Why?

These sticks were made for walking. They can deliver themselves.