Amnesty week as hospital pleas for return of loaned medical equipment

Former patients of King’s Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital are being urged to return medical equipment in an amnesty period on now.

Hundreds of frames, walking sticks and crutches are loaned out to support patients in their recovery.
The hospital maintains up-to-date records of its three-month loans but many patients do not return equipment after the period is up.
This week (January 23) the trust is holding an amnesty for medical equipment to be returned to the hospital.

Head of clinical workforce and innovation, Charles Bruce, is urging the return of equipment, which costs the trust thousands of pounds to buy.

He said: “I would like to reassure patients that we have ample stocks of equipment to loan when they arrive at the hospital for treatment and that we have up-to-date records.
“However, I would like to appeal to those people who no longer need items such as walking frames, crutches and oxygen cylinders to return these to the hospital in order for them to be loaned to others after cleaning and passing infection control.”

Some patients have also been loaned oxygen cylinders by the hospital on their discharge, which must also be returned as these are not owned by the trust.
All QEH equipment is marked with a sticker which bears the hospital’s name.

Equipment can be returned to the hospital’s rehab entrance. Cylinders can also be dropped off at doctors’ surgeries or call Liam Cawston on 01553 613439 to arrange pick-up.