Each year in the city more than £100,000 worth of vital hospital equipment is not being returned to the Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital.

Now, in a bid to recover these items, Bradford Teaching Hospitals are holding an amnesty which will run throughout June, July and August.

Hospital bosses are appealing for the return of vital pieces of equipment like  crutches ,walking frames, tens machines, dressing aids1 which can be re-used for future patients and those most in need. 

Physiotherapy manager, Jill Gregson, who is leading the equipment amnesty at the Foundation Trust, said: "Many patients simply forget to return the equipment that has been loaned to them by the hospital, once they are no longer needed and instead store them in garages, cupboards or sheds. 

"The idea of the amnesty is to encourage local people to have a good look around their homes, including attics and garages, and to return any pieces of equipment to the hospital, so that they can be cleaned and reused by patients who require them. 

"It is really important to us that we don’t want people to feel embarrassed when they return these items as we are just very grateful that they have been returned." 

People can leave hospital equipment during the hours of 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday at:

• Wheelchair Services, Cemetery Road, Bradford  
• The Physiotherapy Departments at Bradford Royal Infirmary and St.Luke’s Hospital.
  

Jill added: "In this new era of austerity within the NHS the returned equipment will boost our stocks and help us to ensure we have the right piece of equipment for future patients and it will also mean that we don’t have to spend resources replacing items that are otherwise sitting around in people’s garages, sheds and attics".

Bradford South Public Governor, Mike Turner, who has been part of the working group responsible for bringing about the amnesty, asked people across the city to get involved.

Mike added: "We are holding an equipment amnesty at the Trust in order that the NHS doesn’t have to fork out needless money on equipment that people have forgotten to bring back. So if you or a family member have equipment at home which  you no longer need or use, please return it to one of the various drop-off points so someone else can benefit and so that money can be saved and spent on other parts of the service."