Why doesn't the Welsh Government encourage the reuse of appliances such as crutches and support boots after proper sterilization in the Welsh NHS?
The Welsh Government is committed to making savings in the NHS in Wales. It is essential, therefore, that the NHS and all providers of public services in Wales avoid waste and make the best use of the resources available to them. We actively encourage health boards to consider ways to reduce waste by addressing the over-prescription of medicines and medical equipment and ensuring equipment is returned and reused wherever possible.
People given walking aids are asked to return these to their local physiotherapy department when no longer needed so they can be reused, repaired or disposed of if they are no longer suitable for reuse. While older or damaged items are disposed of, health boards make their best efforts to repair and reuse as many items as possible in order to reduce the cost of providing these aids.