The response to your query is detailed below:
1) How many crutches, walking frames and walking sticks were purchased by your trust in 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010 (please can you break this down by equipment type e.g “27,000 walking frames”)
We have purchased, in the main, Single Adjustable Standard Elbow Crutches and very few walking frames, the latter being patient specific and only amounting to less than 10 sets over the 4 year period requested. I can find no requests/orders for “walking sticks”, but I believe the cruches we do purchase are used instead of the traditional wooden walking stick.
Single Adjustable Standard Elbow Crutches (Pair) – Volume purchased 2010 = 1,100 – Value = £8,250.00 + VAT
Single Adjustable Standard Elbow Crutches (Pair)– Volume purchased 2011 = 2,050 – Value = £15,375.00 + VAT
Single Adjustable Standard Elbow Crutches (Pair) – Volume purchased 2012 = 2,395 – Value = £17,962.00 + VAT
Single Adjustable Standard Elbow Crutches (Pair) – Volume purchased 2013 = 2,300 – Value = £17,250.00 + VAT
2) What was the total spend in the above years on a) crutches b) walking frames c) walking sticks.
Please see above
3) Do you know how many have been given to patients and have not been returned? If so, please can you provide the figure for each of the above years.
We do not hold this information, we would not necessarily expect the items to be returned. Some items are not usable after return and the low cost of sticks and crutches does not make it viable to keep a database etc.
4) Are there ever health and safety reasons which prevent crutches, walking frames and walking sticks being re-used if they are in good working condition?
We would reuse if they are returned in good working order and we were able to clean them.
5) If the answer to the above is ‘yes’ what happens to this equipment?
If equipment is returned to us and it is not in good order it is scrapped. If it is not bent, broken or rusted we will reuse after cleaning and replacing the ferrule.
6) Do you know the estimated cost to the NHS of lost/stolen crutches, walking frames, walking sticks in the above years?
We do not hold this information.
