Crutch amnesty declared to help Barrow hospital save cash

Patients who suffer a broken or injured leg are often provided with a pair of crutches to allow their limb time to heal.

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But fewer people are returning the items to the Dalton Lane hospital - forcing staff to use scarce funds to buy more.

Now, patients who have crutches lingering at the back of cupboards or in their loft at home are being urged to return them so they can be re-used by new patients.

People can use one of a number of crutch amnesty drop off points at FGH, including A&E reception and the plaster room.

Most can be easily and cheaply restored to so they can be loaned to the next patient in need.

Foluke Ajayi, chief operating officer at the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust, explained the situation had been worsened over the winter as the number of people attending accident and emergency with injuries requiring crutches had increased.

"Over recent weeks, we have seen an increase in the number of people turning up at the ED with injuries that require crutches. 

"What people perhaps don’t realise is that once they have recovered and no longer need crutches, they should return them so that they can be appropriately cleaned and used to help other patients who need them."

It is thought each pair of crutches costs around £20 to purchase.

Hospital bosses hope the savings will enable the extra cash to be poured into paying for crucial medical supplies and services throughout the wards.

Ms Ajayi added: "It’s also really important that people realise that, by returning their crutches this means that money can be saved for spending on other vital equipment and services around FGH. 

"With that in mind, if anyone has crutches from FGH’s ED that they no longer use, we would really appreciate it if they could return them to either the ED reception desk or the plaster room at FGH as soon as possible."