NHS crutches claim ‘ridiculous’

Scots hospitals have been derided for “ridiculous” claims that re-using crutches and zimmer frames pose a health risk to patients.

An investigation revealed NHS Scotland is forking out £1.5million every year for vital equipment.

But it emerged that some health boards are advising patients to keep crutches and zimmer frames or throw them away after using them. This is because of health and safety fears that re-using them could spread infection.

But the Health and Safety Executive

confirmed: “There are no health and safety reasons why crutches and zimmer frames cannot be reused.”

Margaret Watt, chairman of the Scotland Patients Association, fumed: “What are the hospitals talking about?

“Do they think they should get rid of hospital beds after just one use? No, they are steam cleaned. Surely we can sterilise crutches, for heaven’s sake. It is a ridiculous situation.”

We discovered that NHS boards bought 37,951 pairs of crutches an average of 729 each week last year. Another 22,633 walking frames were purchased in 2013, which averages 435 a week.

NHS Grampian tells patients there’s no need to return crutches.

Patients in other health board areas have also been told to keep their crutches.

Bette Simpson, 78, a retired hospital ward manager, was given NHS elbow crutches when she left Monklands Hospital in Airdrie last year.

Bette said: “When I asked where I return them to, l was told it didn’t matter as they get dumped anyway. It is a disgrace and an appalling waste of NHS money.”

She added: “In Canada, the Red Cross deals with them. The patients get a slip from the hospital saying exactly what they need and they take their crutches into the hospital before they have their operation. When they have finished with them, they take them back to the Red Cross, with a wee donation. Surely we could have something similar in Scotland.”

Patient Kathleen Mustard was sent home from Chalmers Hospital in Banff with new crutches after injuring her leg.

She said: “I was told ‘Do not return the crutches, they are all part of your treatment’.”

John MacEachen, a spokesman for NHS National Services Scotland, said crutches and zimmer frames were bought by each NHS board, which set their own returns policy.

Scottish Tory health spokesman Jackson Carlaw said: “If the Health and Safety Executive says they can be re-used, health boards should be trying to get that value from the equipment.”

NHS Grampian said: “The crutches used at Chalmers Hospital are single-use and not meant to be recycled. This advice is given to patients. The crutches cost approximately £9.50 a pair and it would cost more to recover them and have them cleaned for

re-use.”