Posts Tagged ‘mobility’

The provider of community equipment in York and North Yorkshire is rolling out its mobile exhibition unit – and appealing for people to return any unwanted crutches, walking frames or chair raisers.

Medequip, which provides equipment on
behalf of North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) and clinical commissioning
groups (CCGs) in the county, wants to take equipment that’s become surplus to
requirements and introduce it back into circulation.

Medequip’s North East Region General
Manager, Steve Smith, said: “The NHS loses hundreds of thousands of pounds
every year in the shape of crutches, walking sticks, bathroom aids – in short,
all sorts of equipment provided free of charge to help people after accidents
or to keep older people independent for longer.

“We are working with county council and
CCG colleagues to try to bring more of this much needed equipment back into
circulation. Most items only need a clean and a check over to be reissued to
someone else in need of support.”

On 19 March between 10am and 3pm,
Medequip will park its mobile exhibition unit at York Hospital – outside the
front entrance, next to the multi-storey car park. It will take equipment and
after a thorough deep clean, will make sure it gets back into circulation.

It’s the latest in a recent community
equipment “amnesty” launched by Medequip and commissioners and is part of a
wider Return, Recycle, Reuse campaign in North Yorkshire.

Dr Charles Parker, the Clinical Chair
Designate for North Yorkshire CCGs, said: “It’s a fact that most people don’t
intend to keep hold of this equipment. In many cases, they’re simply not aware
of how to return it. Maybe they’ve mislaid the details, or maybe they have all
good intentions to do so and the time has just slipped by.

“If you’ve got items languishing in
your garage, cupboard, shed or attic, here’s your chance to do your bit for the
NHS and local council.”

There are other ways people can return
equipment that’s on loan from Medequip and no longer needed.

There are Medequip drop-off points at
Dunslow Court, Eastfield near Scarborough and Manse Lane in Knaresborough and
amnesty bins at The Archways in York and York District Hospital, the OT
department at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton and Yorwaste’s household
waste recycling centre at Pennypot Lane in Harrogate.

Medequip will also pick up
some items for free – call 01423 226240 or email north.yorks@medequip-uk.com