Patient Council members back BBC One Show campaign to return

NHS equipment and will be at local Health Centres on the 8^th March.

Have you been issued with a set of crutches or any walking aids such as a Zimmer frame and not yet returned them? The Island’s Patient Council are backing a BBC One Show campaign and Island residents are being asked to search their homes for any crutches or any other items of NHS equipment that are no longer needed and return them to their local Health Centre on the 8^th March 2017 from 10am. No questions will be asked, no details will be taken.

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.

The Trust’s Patient Council highlighted the need to do something about the amount the IOW NHS Trust spends on such items and offered to hold an Amnesty Day in the hope that it will be easier for members of the public to drop items to their local Health Centre. The Patient Council is made up of 20 members, who meet every six weeks to provide a patient perspective and to pursue or help address matters identified as important by patients. Members are also involved with helping shape strategies and new initiatives in local health care.

Chair of the Patient Council, Linda Fair, said “More than £10,000 per year is spent on purchasing new crutches and this money could be spent on other front line services. In the past the IOW NHS Trust has requested that items are returned and it’s pulled some items in but not enough to make a difference. Usually it is just a case of forgetfulness but the Trust really does need them and other equipment to be returned. We hope that by being located across the island, at each Health Centre and at St Mary’s Hospital, it will make it more attractive for people to return any items they may have. We won’t ask any questions or take any details, we really do just hope people return a lot of equipment back to the Trust.”

Please see below for where and when drop off points will be made available:

Linda continued: “For anyone who has watched the BBC One Show they will know that their reporter Kevin Duala is on a mission to help the NHS save money by making sure that more equipment is returned to hospitals. Now the Patient Council are doing their bit and we hope that Islanders will do theirs.”

To find out more about the BBC One Show campaign view their film at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04hnw9l.

The majority of services provided by Isle of Wight NHS Trust are commissioned and funded by Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), NHS England and Isle of Wight Council.