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NHS Equipment Amnesty
KNOWSLEY'S Integrated Community Equipment Service
(ICES), is running a campaign to encourage patients to return all NHS loaned
equipment that they no longer need, so it can be cleaned, recycled and put to
good use again.
The service, which is delivered by North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation
Trust, provides free NHS equipment to support patients across Knowsley and
Sefton.
ICES is asking that everyone takes the time to check if they have any NHS
community equipment they no longer need and to get in touch as soon as possible
to arrange a free collection, as part of their equipment amnesty.
Every year around 20,000 pieces of equipment are loaned out in Knowsley, but
less than ½ of these are returned. This costs the local NHS over ₤300,000 a
year to replace.
Some examples of how much money could be saved by returning unused NHS community
equipment include:-
► Each wheeled zimmer frame saves the NHS around ₤17.
► Each bath lift returned saves the NHS around ₤200.
► Each pressure mattress returned saves the NHS between ₤140 and ₤550.
► Each kitchen trolley returned saves the NHS around ₤40.
Sara Harrison, Head of Service for the Centre of Independent Living, said:-
"We need to make best use of our resources and ask anyone who has any
equipment such as walking aids, kitchen or bathroom aids, supportive seating,
specialist mattresses or cushions to kindly return them. Everyone will be aware
of the financial pressures currently facing the NHS, and the Community Equipment
Amnesty is 1 way to help save some money locally."
If you or a relative has any NHS equipment you no longer need, you can arrange
for it to be collected free of charge by contacting the Knowsley Integrated
Community Equipment Service (ICES) on:- 0151 244 4380
Alternatively, you can return the equipment yourself, during opening hours
(Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm) at the following address:-
The Knowsley Centre for Independent Living,
Unit 11 Brickfields,
Huyton Business Park,
L36 6HY.
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