Mobility Aids

[sparkythecat]

I was at the local tip recycling centre yesterday and a woman took out of the boot of her car a standard issue aluminium Zimmer frame - the type with 2 small wheels and 2 rubber feet. It looked brand new She handed it to the site attendant to put in the scrap metal skip.

I suggested to the site attendant that perhaps it would be better returned to Social Services for re-use rather than being skipped, but he informed me that Social Services will not take them back, the same with crutches and other mobility aids.

Is this really true?

[Piglet]

I'm not sure about crutches, but certainly the mobility aids we have for both my Dad and for MiL are non returnable. I think the theory is that the cost of cleaning, storing and distributing the items outweighs the cost of buying them.

When MiL had something new the other day it was supplied by "prescription" from the OT via the pharmacist so Social Services had no involvement in the supply other than the prescription.

[SPR2]

When I returned my crutches after an op, I was told they are sterilised etc and then sent to Old peoples homes.
Some charity shops will take mobility aids too.

[eric twinge]

my young daughter uses key walker which is 'on loan' and we have to return it when she outgrows that particular one. Seems odd that they cannot be returned.

[rog3k]

Here, in deepest Dorset, such aids are generally issued by the hospital (in my experience) & they want them returned when no longer needed.

[mph1977]

sparkythecat said:

I was at the local tip recycling centre yesterday and a woman took out of the boot of her car a standard issue aluminium Zimmer frame - the type with 2 small wheels and 2 rubber feet. It looked brand new She handed it to the site attendant to put in the scrap metal skip.

I suggested to the site attendant that perhaps it would be better returned to Social Services for re-use rather than being skipped, but he informed me that Social Services will not take them back, the same with crutches and other mobility aids.

Is this really true?

Social Services won;t take them back as they don't issue them , the NHS community equipment service or Acute trust that supplied them would though ...

all 'normal' mobility aids are routinely reused after inspection and minor repairs/ refurb ( e.g. consumables like the ferrule /'stopper' ). Wheelchairs it depends on how specialised it was and why it's returned ...

[Piglet]

rog3k said:

Here, in deepest Dorset, such aids are generally issued by the hospital (in my experience) & they want them returned when no longer needed.

Dad's were issued by the occupational therapist (in Dorset) and they do not take them back. When he's been discharged from hospital with crutches they have wanted those returned.

[shed driver]

The thing with zimmer frames is, IIRC, that they may have been subjected to stresses and may be prone to structural failure - it's cheaper to bin them than take the chance that it's not been bent and then straighten back. Crutches have a lot more rigidity.

SD.

[Conian]

I can shed some light on this.

Its actually cheaper to give out new ones, and throw them away when the time comes... than it is to have a giant shed storing, cleaning, servicing and allocating equipment.

Also, if S/Serv give it out, it's their duty to service it etc
So, they've made a bunch of suppliers drop their prices, and give out coupons so the old and infirm can pop along to their local Mobility shop and cash in their voucher for a basic aid, or to add some cash for the GTi model.
Then it is theirs to own, use, clean, service and recycle or sell.