General Chat

well my husband had a total hip replacement early November,on returning his medical aids we were told they did not want the crutches back.
now call me silly but ithought the nhs were trying to save money,however much money must this be costing when you think about how many pairs are issued per year.
It beggers belief.

sue

and they wonder why our NHS is in such a state :-( :-(

probably costs more in time n paperwork than they are worth,

to book 'em back in, be inspected for damage, we are living in a compensation environment, are we not?
and someone getting hurt through a possibly faulty walking aid.............say no more!!

Bob

why not donate them to the red cross :-D :-D

Glad you posted this Sue. After our son in law sadly died at the ens of ladt year, daughter wanted to return all the aids he had been using, commode, crutches, two frames that fitted round the toilets, walking frame and other things. They were not wanted. I think it is disgusting. She took them to the Red Cross who were very grateful for them.

maybe I will take them to the red cross then.

When I left hospital a year ago I was issued with a pair of crutches and a wheelchair.
I had to sign for them, and was given a form with details of how they should be returned if no longer required.

Following a visit from the Occupational Therapists there then arrived a commode, a raised seat with handles for the toilet, and a stool with handles which is intended to be used at a washbasin etc.

In the event I didn't actually need any of those three items.

I phoned the relevant dept last Monday to arrange collection. They thanked me and said they were very short of equipment, and a van arrived on Wednesday to collect them.

Tec :-)

When I fell off the doormat and had crutches they wanted them returned.. I was also given a moonboot to wear and when they took it off they told me they throw them away because I may have worn it out on a different side to another person..

They can easily replace the rubber stopper things on the bottom of crutches and then they are good to go.

You fell off a doormat Persephone?
How far did you fall?

I've spent a long time in A & E with aged relatives after falls etc. In each there was a big box of crutches and walking aids. Several dozen at least. They where handed out like plasters, so they didn't expect them to be returned. On the other hand, items we had from Occupational Therapy (Bathroom aids, Bed adaptors etc) were signed for and returned to them after use.

Andy

I too once fell off a doormat!!! well not exactly fell off it, but it was a thick outdoor mat and I stepped on the side of it and fell to floor spraining my ankle very badly - had to walk with an elbow crutch for some time after - easy thing to do so watch out

The items I spoke about were issued by occ therapy. Yes a raised toilet seat as well.

I worked in a hospital for some years and part of my job was to send reminders out to people who had walking aids to return them. I was still send reminders to people at least a year after they had 'borrowed' them. Some were returned but many were not.

there are various health and safety regulations about used goods - my daughter when deputy manager of a - private - respite care home was given a secondhand wheelie walker they were not allowed to use, nor could they put it in their fund-raising shop - I suppose no insurance policy would be valid if a wheel coming off caused an accident or something. (I made a donation and took it off them. still working fine it must be at least 10 years on!)

How ridiculous, why not contact the Health Minister and let him know

I recently saw an ad on gumtree for a loo surround/support being given away and as I am struggling with my hip and it will get worse before they operate, I rang up for it. Apparently no one else had contacted them so I have it now. I think they said they had to buy it after their teenage son needed it after his hip op, he had Perthes disease poor lad. I was surprised that no one else wanted it, it was spotless and like new. I was also surprised they had to buy it.

Lizx