The Isle of Wight NHS Trust currently has a very low supply of crutches and are appealing for anyone who has been issued with a set of crutches and not returned them to do so.
Island residents are being urged to search their homes and return any pairs of crutches or any other items of NHS equipment that is no longer needed, such as zimmer frames and any other support aids.
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust is spending thousands of pounds every year on replacement crutches. For every 50 pairs of crutches that are issued to patients only 10 pairs are returned.
More than £10,000 has been spent purchasing new crutches over the past year and this is money that could be spent on other front-line services.
Equipment can be returned to the Emergency Department at St Mary’s Hospital or to the Community Equipment Service located at 19 Barry Way, Newport Business Park.
