VALE residents who no longer need walking aids are being asked to return them to hospital in an effort to reduce waste and save thousands of pounds.

After an injury or operation, people are often issued with a walking aid, such as a frame or pair of crutches, on loan to get them mobile again. But once these are no longer needed people may forget to return them.

Currently Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (UHB) issues more than 10,000 walking aids a year. Of these, only one in three is returned, and one in four is refurbished and reissued to someone else, saving them nearly £20,000 per year.

Robert Skellett, physiotherapy walking aids technician for Cardiff and Vale UHB, said: “We are asking people to return any walking frames, crutches and three or four wheeled walkers that they have been loaned from the hospital or from a community service.

“Working together with the public we can refurbish more equipment for reuse, and help reduce waste and save money.

“The money we save from refurbishing equipment and recycling goes directly back into patient care, which helps us deliver the best services possible.

“If everyone shared this message with their friends and family and we could pull together and make a real difference.”

You can return you walking aids to Barry Hospital's main reception and University Hospital Llandough at the CAVOC reception/physiotherapy department.

For more information call Robert Skellett on 02920 746933 or Jade Coleman on 02920 742643.

To return other medical equipment call Cardiff and Vale UHB Joint Equipment Store on 029 2071 2555.

If you wish to return a wheelchair call the Artificial Limb and Appliance Service on 029 2031 3905.