Press release – issued 3 December 2021
2021/PR032

Residents urged to return unwanted NHS walking aids to Hereford County Hospital

Wye Valley NHS Trust is urging residents to check their own homes and their family members’ homes for NHS walking aids, such as crutches, zimmer frames and metal walking sticks that are no longer needed, as part of its ‘Hand it back’ campaign.

Many unwanted walking aids issued by the NHS are sitting in cupboards, attics, garages, and garden sheds when they could easily be reused for another patient to use, where it’s safe to do so.

Returning unwanted NHS walking aids is really easy.  If you, or a relative or friend have crutches, frames or metal walking sticks supplied by the NHS, such as from Wye Valley NHS Trust, a GP or physiotherapist, that they no longer need, simply hand it back as below:

• At Hereford County Hospital – go to CAR PARK 2 
  (Stonebow Road, Hereford, HR1 2BN)
  
  
• Drive up to the car park 2 barrier, when the barrier lifts, enter the car park
  and turn immediately left
• Place NHS walking aid equipment into the marked dedicated container on the left near the adjacent building
• You will not be charged for parking during the maximum ten minute drop off period
• Please ensure items are in a clean condition before returning and only place NHS walking aid equipment into the container

• If you are not able to return the item but no longer need it, please call the Trust's physiotherapy department on 01432 372995

Wye Valley NHS Trust can only accept walking aids, so please do not return other equipment to them.

Jo Burns, clinical manager for physiotherapy at Wye Valley NHS Trust, said: “Many walking aids don’t get handed back because people are not sure where to take them.

"It’s important that if your walking aid is no longer needed, it is returned to the NHS to help to replenish our stocks for other patients and save the NHS money.

“Any households who are isolating for Covid-19 or are awaiting screening for symptoms of Covid-19 must not return items until their isolation has finished or they/their household members have a COVID-19 negative result”.

For items such as beds, chairs, no longer required please contact NRS healthcare at Rotherwas - call 0300 100 0045 or email enquiries@herefordshire.nrs-uk.net  All equipment supplied by NRS will have a barcode label with NRS on it and NRS will need that number when arrangements are made for equipment collection.

Photos 

Pictured below left to right: Glen Hawkyard - physiotherapist WVT, and Jo Burns WVT - clinical manager for physiotherapy, at Wye Valley NHS Trust.
  

Ends

Notes to Editors WVT:

• Wye Valley NHS Trust is a provider of health services across Herefordshire and beyond. The Trust exists to improve the wellbeing, independence and health of the people we serve.
• By working closely with our partners, we can make good our promise to deliver a quality of care we would want for ourselves, our families and our friends.
• With an estimated annual turnover of around £250 million, we employ around 3,000 staff. We aim to build new relationships between our staff, patients, service users and their carers with the wider community.

For further information please contact:

Fiona Gurney, communications officer, or John Burnett, Communication and Engagement Manager, Wye Valley NHS Trust: 01432 372928