Hartlepool NHS Trust’s plea to patients to return their crutches after national shortage

Staff at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundatio n Trust are asking patients to bring their crutches back if they are no longer needed.
By Pamela Bilalova
Published 5th Nov 2021, 17:55 BST
Updated 5th Nov 2021, 17:55 BST
Due to a national shortage, staff are asking patients to bring their crutches back if they don't need them anymore./Photo: North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation TrustDue to a national shortage, staff are asking patients to bring their crutches back if they don't need them anymore./Photo: North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust
Due to a national shortage, staff are asking patients to bring their crutches back if they don't need them anymore./Photo: North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

The trust is appealing to patients who have been given crutches to return them once they are no longer needed following a national shortage.

Around 10 to 15 pairs are given to patients every day from urgent care centres at both the University Hospital of North Tees and the University Hospital of Hartlepool.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But the trust has said that a significant number have not been returned, posing a serious issue because of a national shortage believed to be due to a scarcity of aluminium.

Trust urgent and emergency care charge nurse Steve Rayner said: “We know that returning crutches is the last thing on anyone’s mind when they’re back on their feet after an injury.

“Historically, we have always had issues with a large number of crutches not being returned. But this is becoming an even more significant problem due to a national shortage.

“We need the crutches for other patients so we’re asking people to please hand them in. Many will have stored them away and forgotten they are in the home.

“Please bring them back so we can re-use them.”

Read More
Work on new multi-million pound respiratory support unit underway at Hartlepool'...
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Upon return, all crutches are professionally cleaned before they are issued to other patients.

Crutches can be returned to the University Hospital of Hartlepool via orthopaedic outpatients and to the University Hospital of North Tees via the main reception, urgent and emergency care reception, orthopaedic outpatients and the Tatchell Centre

For more information about returning medical equipment, visit the North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust website.

Support your Mail and become a subscriber today.

Enjoy unlimited access to all of our news and sport, see fewer ads, experience faster load times, test your brain with daily puzzles and get access to exclusive newsletters.

Your support for our journalism means we can continue telling Hartlepool’s stories for generations to come. Click here to subscribe - and click here to get a snapshot of the Mail’s news and sport to your inbox through our email newsletters.